MEDUZA/EN/VHF: Recent Episodes
Nikolai Priser
Unofficial text to speech broadcast of meduza.io/en front-page articles.
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Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, 23 men from Selenduma, a village in Buryatia, have joined the war; that's about one percent of the village's population. In late March, the village buried Andrey Dandarov, the first resident to return from the war in a body bag. A week later, residents held a patriotic motor rally, lining up their cars to form the Z symbol. In early May, the local magazine Lyudi Baikala (LB; "People of the Baikal") published a report about how young men from Selenduma have been dying in Russia's wars for four decades now -- in Chechnya, Afghanistan, and Ukraine -- and how residents nonetheless continue to support the ongoing "special military operation." With their permission, Meduza has translated the article in full. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/11/we-want-to-die-for-the-motherland-too
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began, 23 men from Selenduma, a village in Buryatia, have joined the war; that's about one percent of the village's population. In late March, the village buried Andrey Dandarov, the first resident to return from the war in a body bag. A week later, residents held a patriotic motor rally, lining up their cars to form the Z symbol. In early May, the local magazine Lyudi Baikala (LB; "People of the Baikal") published a report about how young men from Selenduma have been dying in Russia's wars for four decades now -- in Chechnya, Afghanistan, and Ukraine -- and how residents nonetheless continue to support the ongoing "special military operation." With their permission, Meduza has translated the article in full. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/11/we-want-to-die-for-the-motherland-too
On May 10, a spontaneous protest broke out in Riga's Victory Park after city officials used a bulldozer to remove the flowers left at the park's Monument to the Liberators of Riga. Residents who were upset by the authorities' actions started bringing new flowers to the monument, and a crowd formed. The impromptu gathering, which included demonstrations of Russian symbols and Soviet songs, spurred outrage among other residents -- and the country's leaders. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/11/after-declaring-may-9-a-day-of-commemoration-of-the-victims-in-ukraine-latvian-officials-removed-flowers-from-a-soviet-era-wwii-memorial-outraged-pro-russian-residents-staged-a-protest-in-response
According to Russian officials, roughly 1 million people have been forced to evacuate from Ukraine into Russia since Moscow began its full-scale invasion on February 24. In many areas, evacuating civilians into Ukrainian-controlled territory is simply impossible due to Russian shelling. Left with no other way to safety, refugees are being forcibly deported to Russia via the Kremlin-controlled "Donetsk People's Republic" (DNR) and occupied Crimea. Along the way, they are subjected to a lengthy "filtration" process run by Russian troops, which often involves spending several days in camps. In interviews with Meduza, Ukrainian refugees gave firsthand accounts of how this system works. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/13/i-ve-never-been-so-scared
On May 9, when Russia celebrates the USSR's victory against Nazi Germany, several regions across the country announced that they were renaming local streets in honor of soldiers and political figures from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR). For example, the cities of Grozny, Yakutsk, and Omsk dedicated streets to Alexander Zakharchenko, the DNR's leader until his assassination in August 2018. Other cities announced streets named after Vladimir Zhoga, also known by his nom de guerre "Vokha," who commanded the Sparta Battalion, a pro-Russian separatist force in Donetsk, until his death in March 2022 in combat with the Ukrainian military. Also on May 9, Zhoga's father met personally with Russia's president. Meduza has learned that these dedications and Vladimir Putin's sit-down with Artem Zhoga are parts of a strategy developed by the Kremlin to "prime public opinion" for Russia's annexation of the separatist "republics" in Donetsk and Luhansk. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/13/russians-meet-your-new-heroes
On the eve of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky's rating was less than 25 percent. Moscow waging an all-out war turned Zelensky into a national hero -- one who now enjoys more than 90 percent support among Ukrainians. For Meduza, journalist Konstantin Skorkin breaks down how Zelensky and his team are running the country, managing Ukraine's defense, and cultivating the president's image as a wartime leader. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/13/the-collective-zelensky
In early May, both Russian and Ukrainian troops launched offensives on eastern Ukraine across different parts of the less-than-mighty Siverskyi Donets river (which crosses from Russia into Ukraine before flowing parallel to the Ukrainian-Russian border). Since then, it's been the same story over and over again: one side's troops try to cross the river to launch an attack, but enemy artillery thwarts their attempts, destroying whatever bridge they've built and their forward guard. Every kilometer gained is paid for in blood, and the key question right now is whether the Russian army will manage to use the advantage it has before Ukrainian forces begin widely applying precision weapons obtained from the West. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/13/deadlock-in-the-donbas
The Azovstal steel plant remains the sole point of resistance against the Russian invaders in Mariupol. Though fighting has been ongoing outside of the plant for almost two months, none of the civilians hiding inside were evacuated until April 30. Azovstal workers Ilya and Pavlo (names changed) were some of the first civilians to escape the plant; they're now safe in Zaporozhye. They spoke to Meduza along with Azovstal HR director Ivan Goltvenko, who left the city on March 9 and has been helping others escape ever since. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/13/we-comforted-the-kids-crossed-ourselves-and-bid-our-lives-farewell
Up until the end of April, a group of volunteers were working in Penza to help Ukrainian refugees get to St. Petersburg and, from there, to Estonia. However, threats from anonymous Telegram channels and direct pressure from unknown parties -- graffitied doors, slashed tires -- forced the Penza volunteers to shut down their efforts. Journalist Vladimir Sevrinovsky spent several days with the last group of refugees from Mariupol whom the Penza group was able to help get out of Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/14/penza-volunteers-helped-ukrainian-refugees-leave-for-estonia-now-they-are-being-harassed-in-anonymous-russian-telegram-channels-and-called-ukronazis
Since the first days of the war, Russia's Belgorod region has been on the frontline. The regional center is located just 39 kilometers (24 miles) from the Ukrainian border, and its suburbs are even closer. Uniformed men and military equipment patrol the streets of Belgorod, where tent hospitals now stand alongside coffee shops and parking lots. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov regularly reports incidents of shelling, but life goes on. In this joint report, Meduza and Russian news outlet 7x7 explore how everyday life has changed in the Belgorod region, and whether local residents are afraid of war. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/04/28/the-trenches-mean-we-re-being-protected
For more than two months now, many Russians have openly supported the Kremlin's "special military operation" in Ukraine -- choosing to close their eyes to executions and rapes, the shelling of peaceful cities, unthinkable destruction, and millions of people losing their homes. Journalist Shura Burtin spent several weeks talking to Russian citizens about their thoughts and feelings about the war. For Meduza, Burtin recounts how fear and a sense of humiliation defeated Russians' humanity. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/03/feeling-around-for-something-human
As Russia's military casualties in Ukraine continue to mount, Buryatia has emerged as the country's second-hardest hit region in terms of losses. The only place losing more men is Dagestan. Nevertheless, the speeches at the near daily funerals in Ulan-Ude and other Buryatian cities still resound with support for Russia's war against "Nazis" and gratitude for the fallen soldiers not being "left behind," but shipped home for burial. At the end of April, the local magazine People of the Baikal published a report about how Buryatia is burying their dead soldiers, and what their loved ones and the regional authorities think about these losses. With their permission, Meduza has translated their article in full. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/05/everything-here-smells-like-the-dead-now
Russia's war propaganda has begun co-opting Soviet symbols with increasing frequency. Monuments to the "grandmother with the Soviet flag," for example, have popped up across the country. And both Kremlin officials and propaganda narratives continue to frame Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine as an extension of the "Great Patriotic War." Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev looked into the Kremlin's "Soviet" agitprop and learned how it's connected to Moscow's drive to annex new territories. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/05/it-s-a-reference-to-the-ussr-to-its-return
On May 13, the St. Petersburg news outlet Bumaga published an in-depth investigation into a new method the city's police have devised for suppressing protests: shortly before planned protest rallies, security officials use bomb threat charges to detain large groups of activists and hold them in detention facilities for 48 hours, causing them to miss the protests. On March 5, just one day before a nationwide protest rally against the war, St. Petersburg police used this method to arrest dozens of people; the same technique was used to curtail protests on Victory Day. Read Meduza's summary of the investigation in English below. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/16/telephone-terrorism
Moscow has yet to confirm the exact number of Russian soldiers currently fighting in Ukraine. According to various estimates, Russia's full-scale invasion has involved up to 100,000 troops. In interviews with Meduza, several relatives of contract soldiers said that it's impossible for them to resign from military service -- those that attempt to quit are threatened with criminal charges of desertion and treason. Meduza correspondent Sasha Sivtsova reports on how Russian soldiers are being sent into Ukraine and how they're forced to stay there. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/16/we-have-no-idea-who-we-re-fighting-for
Since early April, Kremlin propaganda has celebrated "Granny Anya" as a symbol of supposed Ukrainian popular support for Russia's "special military operation." Anna Ivanovna Ivanova, a 69-year-old woman who lives in Velyka Danylivka (a town outside Kharkiv), became an icon in Russia after appearing in a viral Internet video where she greeted a group of soldiers with a Soviet flag and said she was praying for Vladimir Putin. More recently, however, Ukrainian officials released an interview with Ivanova, revealing that the war had forced her and her husband to flee their home. Correspondents from BBC Russia met with Ivanova (who's returned to Velyka Danylivka) and learned that she opposes Russia's invasion and wishes only for peace. Meduza summarizes what Anna Ivanova told the BBC. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/16/maybe-the-lord-himself-sent-me
The first step of Putin's "special military operation" against Ukraine ended with the creation of an occupied bridgehead in the south of the country that's adjacent to Russian-annexed Crimea on one side and to the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic on the other. Russia's military has captured the majority of the Kherson region and part of the Zaporizhzhia region. In the occupied cities, Russian occupants and their collaborators have set up "civilian-military administrations," hiding the imperial nature of the new regime. Now, the Kremlin is trying to engineer a repeat of what happened in Crimea and the Donbas in 2014 -- but whether it succeeds will depend on what happens on the battlefield. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/16/meet-the-collaborators
A month has passed since a Ukrainian missile strike sank the Russian warship Moskva. In total, there were around 500 people aboard the vessel, which was the Black Sea Fleet's flagship. The Russian Defense Ministry has only acknowledged that one sailor was killed, while claiming that another 27 are missing. On condition of anonymity, the mother of a conscripted sailor who disappeared aboard the Moskva told Meduza about her month-long battle with the Russian authorities for information about her son. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/17/apparently-our-guys-have-been-forgotten
Bohdan is an airfield service employee at Hostomel Airport, which was the site of heavy fighting at the very start of the war. For three weeks, he and his family lived in the basement of their apartment building, right across from the occupied airport. The building, which came under heavy fire at times, was occupied first by Chechen riot police, then by an airborne assault unit from Omsk. In mid-March, all of the basement's inhabitants were forcibly taken to Belarus. Bohdan told Meduza his story. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/20/you-re-lucky-it-was-us-chechens-who-found-you
Bohdan is an airfield service employee at Hostomel Airport, which was the site of heavy fighting at the very start of the war. For three weeks, he and his family lived in the basement of their apartment building, right across from the occupied airport. The building, which came under heavy fire at times, was occupied first by Chechen riot police, then by an airborne assault unit from Omsk. In mid-March, all of the basement's inhabitants were forcibly taken to Belarus. Bohdan told Meduza his story. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/20/you-re-lucky-it-was-us-chechens-who-found-you
On May 15, Western military experts declared that Ukraine had won the "battle for Kharkiv." Analysts pointed to the retreat of Russian detachments around Kharkiv in the face of Ukrainian counterattacks. Russian troops had been fighting to take control of the city, which lies about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the Russian border, since the beginning of the war. Residential areas on the city's outskirts were torn apart, and on March 2, a missile strike hit the city's central square. Thousands of civilians took cover in basements and in the city's metro station. Now, Kharkivites are sorting through the rubble, repairing the public transport system, restoring the electricity and gas supply, and preparing their beauty salons and cafes to open up again. Larisa Kalik went to Kharkiv to talk to the residents bringing the city back to life. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/20/we-weren-t-afraid-of-them-but-they-were-very-afraid-of-us
On May 15, Western military experts declared that Ukraine had won the "battle for Kharkiv." Analysts pointed to the retreat of Russian detachments around Kharkiv in the face of Ukrainian counterattacks. Russian troops had been fighting to take control of the city, which lies about 25 kilometers (15 miles) from the Russian border, since the beginning of the war. Residential areas on the city's outskirts were torn apart, and on March 2, a missile strike hit the city's central square. Thousands of civilians took cover in basements and in the city's metro station. Now, Kharkivites are sorting through the rubble, repairing the public transport system, restoring the electricity and gas supply, and preparing their beauty salons and cafes to open up again. Larisa Kalik went to Kharkiv to talk to the residents bringing the city back to life. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/20/we-weren-t-afraid-of-them-but-they-were-very-afraid-of-us
On May 17, lawmakers in the State Duma discussed the possibility of cancelling both gubernatorial and regional and municipal elections scheduled for September 11, 2022. The stated reason is the need to support the president unanimously during Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine. Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev learned that Vladimir Putin has yet to reach a final decision about postponing the elections, but the Federal Security Service and National Security Council are lobbying hard to convince him that it's crucial. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/17/we-re-flying-blind-now
Internet giant Yandex is looking for buyers for its Russian assets Yandex Search, Yandex.Mail, and the movie database Kinopoisk, a source close to the company's co-founder Arkady Volozh told Meduza. This was corroborated by another source close to the company's management. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/17/deal-or-no-deal
Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Georgian citizens have enthusiastically supported Ukraine: thousands of people have attended anti-war rallies in Tbilisi, the city is covered in Ukrainian flags, and some Georgians have even chosen to fight alongside Ukrainians as volunteers. Despite all that, official relations between the two countries remain strained. Ukraine withdrew its ambassador from Georgia a month ago and has criticized the country for imposing insufficient sanctions against Russia, while the Georgian government has rejected Ukraine's calls for it to open a "second front" and reclaim its occupied territories from Russia. The conflict has started to affect Georgia's domestic politics as well -- its ruling party is facing accusations of cowardice and of supporting Russia. At Meduza's request, Georgian journalist Iya Barateli reports on how her country is trying to walk the line between Ukraine and Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/18/russia-would-do-here-what-it-did-in-mariupol
Russia has been waging a full-scale war against Ukraine for nearly three months. Photographer Petr Kamanin has spent this time taking pictures of Moscow and Muscovites, in an attempt to capture how ordinary, everyday scenes have changed since February 24. Meduza shares these snapshots of the Russian capital along with the photographer's commentary. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/18/moscow-has-changed-for-me
A Kyiv court began the first war crimes trial for a Russian soldier on May 13. On Wednesday, May 18, the accused, 21-year-old Vadim Shishimarin, pleaded guilty to fatally shooting a civilian in Ukraine's Sumy region. Meduza interviewed Shishimarin's mother Lyubov, who lives in the town of Ust-Ilimsk in Russia's Irkutsk region (she asked that her surname, which isn't the same as her son's, not be disclosed). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/19/they-won-t-turn-him-over
For three weeks, more than 300 refugees from Mariupol have been living in the town of Vrangel in Russia's Far Eastern Primorsky Krai. During Russia's weeks-long siege of Mariupol, which is now under occupation, many residents were unable to safely escape to territory controlled by Kyiv. Instead, some civilians seeking evacuation were forcibly deported to the Russian city of Taganrog. Upon arriving at the local train station, these refugees were talked into going to the country's Far East, where they were promised free housing, reduced mortgage rates, relocation support, and jobs. As a result, some 300 refugees from Ukraine ended up in a small town on the shores of the Nakhodka Bay. In interviews with Meduza, refugees living in Vrangel recounted what has happened to them since arriving in Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/19/i-don-t-know-what-to-do
Vladimir Putin's eldest known daughter, Maria Vorontsova, is reportedly active in a Telegram chat group used by alumni of Moscow State University's Medical Department, where she sometimes writes about current events. Dmitry Kolezev, the editor-in-chief of the website Republic, shared this information on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, posting several screenshots received from a member of that chat group showing Vorontsova's comments. The messages, if authentic, offer a rare glance at the political thinking of one of the Russian president's closest relatives. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/19/how-putin-s-eldest-daughter-sees-it
After weeks of defending the Azovstal steel plant as Ukraine's last stronghold in Mariupol, soldiers from the Azov Battalion began leaving the site on May 16. The troops were evacuated into Russian-controlled territory as part of what Kyiv describes as an ongoing "rescue operation." However, officials in Russia and the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) have cast doubt on the possibility of swapping these soldiers in a prisoner exchange, calling instead for Azov troops to face a "tribunal" and even capital punishment. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/19/it-was-the-only-option
On Thursday, the second court hearing of 21-year-old Russian Sergeant Vadim Shishimarin took place in Kyiv. Shishimarin is the first Russian soldier to face formal charges for war crimes in Ukraine. He is accused of murdering a 62-year-old man in the Sumy region named Oleksandr Shelipov. According to prosecutors, on February 28, Shishimarin and four other Russian servicemen ended up in the village of Chupakhivka after their convoy was attacked and dispersed. The soldiers then fired on and commandeered a private vehicle. While driving away, they saw a civilian with a bicycle who was speaking on a cell phone. On orders from his commanding officer, Shishimarin shot the man using his assault rifle. Not long thereafter, Ukrainian troops captured the sergeant and later charged him with violating the laws and customs of warfare, as well as committing a premeditated murder. Under these statutes, Shishimarin faces between 10 years in prison and life imprisonment. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/20/i-fired-so-they-d-leave-me-alone
McDonalds has announced that it is leaving the Russian market after 32 years of doing business there. Since mid-March, operations have been suspended at McDonalds' 850 restaurants across Russia. On May 16, the company confirmed that it will sell its Russian business. Existing locations will be rebranded, and the iconic Golden Arches will vanish. According to the state news agency TASS, the new restaurants could open as soon as mid-June. Before the invasion, McDonalds employed 62,000 people at its franchises. The company continued to pay these staff even after suspending business in Russia. Meduza spoke to a handful of McDonalds workers to learn their thoughts about the chain's departure from Russia, and to find out what they plan to do next. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/24/it-would-really-suck-to-lose-everyone
The investigative news website Proekt has published a database of information about Russian military units currently fighting in Ukraine. In total, the database names 166 commanding officers, offering varying degrees of detail about each individual's activities and biography, as well as information about their income, property, debts, and any recorded fines. Nearly two dozen of the officials identified were born or raised in Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/23/166-names
Russian ballet master Igor Zelensky may share a last name with Ukraine's current president -- but he's actually the father of Vladimir Putin's granddaughter. A joint investigation by Meduza, Current Time TV, and the Dossier Center has revealed that Zelensky has been in a years-long relationship with Putin's purported second daughter, Katerina Tikhonova. Until recently, Zelensky was based in Munich, where he worked as the director of the Bavarian State Ballet. And Tikhonova, who heads the Moscow-based nonprofit "Innopraktika," divided her time between Russia and Germany. Zelensky resigned from his position in Munich in early April, reportedly in connection with his refusal to publicly condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Now, there's speculation that Zelensky will take on a leadership role at a new state theater the Russian authorities are constructing in Crimea -- a project announced by Putin himself in 2018. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/21/meet-putin-s-new-son-in-law
On February 23, four members of an Orthodox youth movement in Kharkiv set out on a four-day pilgrimage. Their plan was to return home on February 28. At 5:00 a.m on February 24, they got off their train in Kyiv and learned that Russia's invasion had begun. Ever since then, they've been living in a Ukrainian Orthodox monastery in the Kyiv region. Some of them have nowhere else to go because their homes have been destroyed; others have made the decision not to leave for religious reasons. Meduza asked Iryna, a journalist from Kyiv who found herself living in the same monastery, to write about the new lives these young people are building in the monastery. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/23/the-monks-prayers-are-an-anti-aircraft-defense-system
On May 11, the online newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda released a short documentary called "The Occupant" ("Okupant," in Ukrainian), which tells the story of a Russian lieutenant named Yury Shalaev. According to the newspaper, 24-year-old Shalaev served as the commander of a motorized rifle platoon in a military unit based in Shali, Chechnya. He was deployed to Ukraine on March 3, as part of Russia's full-scale invasion -- and he recorded his wartime experiences on his phone. Shalaev was taken prisoner in early April and the videos he recorded ended up in the hands of Ukrayinska Pravda. The newspaper's journalists turned the recordings into a 24-minute documentary that offers a window into Shalaev's life before and after his arrival in Ukraine. To find out more about the making of the film, Meduza sat down with journalist Mykhailo Tkach, the head of Ukrayinska Pravda's investigations department. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/20/it-was-hard-to-watch
On May 20, Azov regiment member and Mariupol defender Dmytro Kozatsky posted two farewell photos on social media as he left the Azovstal steel plant, where he had been living under siege for over two months. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/25/azovstal-s-ears-and-eyes
As of today, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been underway for exactly three months. Throughout Moscow's "special military operation," representatives of the Russian elite have repeatedly changed their positions on the war in Ukraine and the crisis at home. Moderate optimism replaced what was initially extreme pessimism, only to be ousted by a wave of moderate pessimism. Sources close to the Kremlin told Meduza that these moods have shifted again, as more elites express dissatisfaction with Vladimir Putin directly. Frustration with the president, moreover, is rising among both supporters and opponents of the invasion. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/24/almost-nobody-is-happy-with-putin
Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant was under continuous siege by Russian troops from early March until May 17. The last place unoccupied by Russian troops in the city, the plant was completely cut off from the outside world. Ukrainians managed to defend it up until May 16, when the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces ordered the commanders of the units in Azovstal to "save the lives of the personnel." The soldiers (the majority of whom belong to the Azov regiment, which was using the plant as a base) laid down their weapons and surrendered. Meduza spoke to the wives of two of the Azov soldiers who were taken prisoner, and to the mother of one who died, about what it was like to follow the siege from afar as their loved ones were under siege inside the plant. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/25/he-dedicated-his-youth-to-ukraine
Since the start of the war, the Russian government has repeatedly violated even the most basic rights of Russian soldiers. Those who don't want to join the war have been forced to sign contracts and sent into battle against their will. Meanwhile, families have been given little to no information about the fates of their missing husbands and sons -- nor, often, have they been given their dead loved ones' bodies. With the official system either overwhelmed by the sheer number of victims or invested in remaining opaque, the task of helping relatives get answers has fallen to human rights lawyers. Meduza spoke to Soldiers' Mothers Committee Executive Secretary Valentina Melnikova about the new role the organization has taken on since February 24. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/25/chaos-like-we-ve-never-seen-before
According to the Kremlin-controlled media, the overwhelming majority of Russians support the war against Ukraine. There is no mass movement against the invasion, the state's propagandists argue, and yet the authorities tirelessly track down and prosecute ordinary people for criticizing the "special operation" on social media and at small protests with banners that read, "No to the war!" But can these statements against the invasion change anything? Are they worth the risks? What's the point of such actions if the war continues regardless? Maria Sereda at the Greenhouse of Social Technologies (Teplitsa) discussed these questions with Croatian-Bosnian human rights activist Igor Blazhevich, who's assisted with deliveries of humanitarian aid to conflict zones and helped found the charity group People in Need. With Teplitsa's kind permission, Meduza republishes Blazhevich's remarks in full. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/26/you-can-t-end-wars-with-antiwar-movements-but-you-can-hasten-the-end
Since mid-April, Russia has focused its invasion of Ukraine on capturing the eastern region known as the Donbas. According to military reports, the fighting here has been largely positional battles without significant advancements by either side. Both Russia and Ukraine have built up their forces, regrouped, and continued artillery fire. In the last week, however, statements by officials in Kyiv have become more alarming, as if Ukraine's leadership is preparing the nation for a major defeat: the loss of Severodonetsk (one of the last big cities in the region still under Ukrainian control) and a "new Mariupol." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/26/we-re-barely-afloat
Dmytro Kozatsky is a soldier from Ukraine's Azov regiment and the photographer behind a now-famous collection of photos showing the defenders of the besieged Azovstal steel plant. On May 16, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces ordered the commanders of the units in Azovstal to "save the lives of the personnel" there. Four days later, on May 20, Kozatsky reported that he had surrendered. Meduza spoke to his sister, Darya Yurchenko, about why Kozatsky originally decided to join Azov, his life during the siege, and his family's main concerns at the moment. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/25/he-said-he-was-fine-but-what-else-would-a-brother-tell-his-sister
Days after launching its full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, Russia outlawed the spread of "knowingly false information" about the country's armed forces. The new law, which came into force on March 4, carries punishments of up to 15 years in prison -- and it has so far been used to persecute those who openly condemn Russia's war against Ukraine. Meduza looks into how state investigators are building criminal cases against anti-war Russians for sharing facts and opinions that stray from the Kremlin line. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/26/holding-people-liable-for-stating-the-facts
Moscow's Alexander Kudryashov Theater Company is an independent troupe staging low-cost plays for intimate audiences. Inside the company, Alexander Kudryashov plays the "roles" of playwright, director, and actor. His new play, "Bye, Dad," tells the story of his late father, a veteran of the Second Chechen War. And it's a rare example of theater that feels appropriate in wartime. It's also a remarkably candid work, even though the author himself avoids speaking of his feelings. Theater critic Anton Khitrov shares his thoughts about the play. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/27/bye-dad
Before Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine, Ukraine's state railroad company, Ukrainian Railways, was often criticized for being ineffective and suspected of corruption. Now, Ukrainian Railways is providing shelter for millions of refugees, transporting foreign leaders on official visits to Kyiv, and delivering humanitarian and military cargo to towns throughout Ukraine. Even Russian propagandists have marveled at the efficiency with which the company has mobilized its railroads. Meduza spoke to Ukrainian Railways head Oleksandr Kamyshin about the changes the company has made since the start of the war, the fight against Russian collaborators in the company, and the task of storing Russian soldiers' bodies in refrigerator cars. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/27/we-treat-the-russian-dead-better-than-they-treat-living-ukrainians
Since the start of the war, St. Petersburg resident Alexey Lakhov has been sending complaints to various government agencies requesting that they remove pro-war symbols from public spaces. St. Petersburg news outlet Bumaga recently published a story about Lakhov and his small acts of protest. With their permission, Meduza is publishing a translation below. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/27/it-s-a-small-way-for-me-to-channel-my-pain-and-rage
Twenty-four-year-old Dmitry Paramoshkin signed a contract with the Russian army in 2020, near the end of his conscription term. "It just sort of happened that way. They said there'd be exercises, [parachute] jumps, we'd ride around, and do that kind of stuff. So, I went ahead and did it," he told the news website Fontanka. On February 25, 2022, Dmitry and his fellow soldiers were told that they were headed to Crimea to join planned military drills. When they arrived, they were given new orders: go to Kherson and then Mykolaiv. Paramoshkin was later captured after invading Ukraine, held prisoner for several weeks, and returned home to St. Petersburg in a prisoner exchange. Now he says he plans to return to the fight, confident that Russia will prevail. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/27/i-m-a-military-man-a-simple-man
For several days now, Russian forces have been trying to capture Lyman -- a strategic railway hub in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Russia is seeking to gain a foothold in Lyman in the hopes of pushing its offensive towards the cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. Russian troops began storming Lyman on May 24, and Denis Pushilin -- the head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) -- claimed full control of the town on the morning of May 27. In turn, Ukrainian officials said that Lyman is "mostly controlled" by Russian troops and fighting is ongoing. To find out what life is like for Lyman's remaining residents, Meduza spoke to their relatives who left the town before it came under occupation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/27/my-mom-says-the-town-is-in-ruins
Despite failing to capture Kyiv at the outset of the war, the Kremlin is reportedly considering a second assault on Ukraine's capital, as Russian troops appear to be on the verge of seizing the entire Donbas region. Sources tell Meduza that advances in the east and expectations that Moscow can win a war of attrition against Kyiv and its Western allies have revived hopes in the Putin administration that a full-scale victory is possible in Ukraine before the end of the year. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/27/we-ll-grind-them-down-in-the-end
Russia's already overcrowded remand prisons are struggling to accommodate growing numbers of detainees, due in part to an influx of Ukrainians taken prisoner during the war, the newspaper Kommersant reported on May 30. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/30/the-whole-system-is-collapsing
The city of Severodonetsk is currently at the epicenter of the battle for the Donbas. Ukraine's troops are trying to hold the line, but according to the Ukrainian General Staff, Russian forces are already entrenched on the eastern outskirts of the city. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Russian strikes had destroyed all of the city's critical infrastructure, damaged 90 percent of its buildings, and completely destroyed two-thirds of its housing stock. Earlier, Oleksandr Stryuk, the head of Severodonetsk's military and civil administration, reported that at least 1,500 residents have been killed. In their own words, locals who managed to escape the city describe what life is like for those who stayed behind. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/30/we-now-have-our-own-mariupol
Using open sources, BBC News Russian has identified 3,052 Russian soldiers and officers killed in Ukraine since Moscow began its full-scale invasion on February 24. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/05/31/tallying-the-troops
It will take a lot of time and research to answer the question of what led to Russia's monstrous war against Ukraine. After Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, the notion quickly spread around the world that this was "Putin's war" and that he personally made the decision to invade. In this essay for Meduza's "Ideas" section, political scientist Kirill Rogov breaks down why this reasoning is more of a convenient pretense than a real explanation of how Russia reached this point. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/01/erroneous-predictions
On April 13, a court in St. Petersburg jailed artist Sasha Skochilenko for replacing price tags at a local grocery store with stickers bearing anti-war messages. Skochilenko stands accused of the felony offense of spreading "disinformation" about the Russian military. Meduza spoke to her girlfriend, Sofya Subbotina, about the artist's life before and after Russia's February invasion of Ukraine, her arrest, and the conditions of her pre-trial detention, which now jeopardize Skochilenko's life. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/01/they-ripped-out-the-tooth-but-said-they-couldn-t-sew-up-her-gum
On May 29, Alex Bokoch shared a Facebook post that went viral. "For my European friends! Just keep in mind this area of Ukraine that has been occupied now by Russia, when you listen [to the] statements of your politicians," he wrote. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/01/this-is-not-just-a-piece-of-land
In the late 2000s, Andrey Konchalovsky released his most ambitious project yet: a large-scale movie version of The Nutcracker, with Hollywood actors and cutting edge graphics. He got funding for the film from Vnesheconombank (VEB), Russia's state development corporation -- but the film was a box office bust, leaving him unable to pay back the money. A new investigation by Transparency International Russia found that Konchalovsky owes VEB almost $130 million -- roughly equivalent to Russia's entire state film production budget for 2021. Below, Meduza is publishing a translation of Transparency International Russia analyst Lizaveta Tsybulina's report, which tells how the Nutcracker money ended up in Konchalovsky's offshore account -- and how VEB is trying to get it back. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/01/gnarled-and-stunted-and-wrong
As the battle for the Donbas rages on, Russian forces continue to make gains. They've seized Lyman, destroyed much of Sievierodonetsk, and are currently advancing on Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Lysychansk, which are currently still under Ukrainian control. Meduza spoke to residents of these cities about what life looks like right now -- and how they're preparing for the Russian army's invasion. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/01/people-are-surviving-however-they-can
Six months ago, GES-2, an arts and culture center housed in a decommissioned Moscow power station, opened on Moscow's Bolotnaya Embankment. It was the brainchild of Leonid Mikhelson, one of Russia's richest businessmen, and was initially headed by Italian curator Teresa Iarocci Mavica. The building, which was originally built in 1907, was reconstructed by influential architect Renzo Piano. In December 2021, after seven years of design and construction work followed by a private showing for Vladimir Putin, the center was officially opened to the public. GES-2 instantly became the center of Moscow's cultural life -- until Russia launched its war in Ukraine. Cut off from the West, the institution found itself in isolation, while its philosophy suddenly appeared incompatible with Russia's new reality. The staff, from curators to executives, began to resign. Ksenia Korobeynikova, an art critic and author of the Ku-ku Telegram channel, spoke to Meduza about the center's uncertain prospects. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/02/ges-2-russia-s-most-audacious-cultural-project-in-recent-years-opened-in-moscow-last-december-on-february-24-its-future-was-forever-altered
It's been more than three months since Russia invaded Ukraine and there haven't been any major resignations from the Russian government. Indeed, no top officials have publicly spoken out against the war. Meduza spoke to the economist and Gaidar Prize laureate Andrei Yakovlev about what Russia's elites are thinking, why they aren't trying to influence the President, where the war is headed, and why the ruling class replacement system fell apart as soon as the Soviet Union collapsed. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/02/an-economic-crisis-will-sober-them-up
Pyotr Mylnikov, a business owner from the village of Olovyannaya in Russia's Zabaykalsky Krai, has become the first person to be convicted under the new law banning "fake news" about the war in Ukraine. The charges were brought after Mylnikov shared two posts on Viber (in a group chat called "We live in ruins") about the progress of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On May 31, a court found him guilty and imposed a fine of one million rubles ($16,148). Meduza spoke to Mylnikov about the content of his posts, how he was treated during his arrest, and why he decided to plead guilty. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/03/if-you-get-cockroaches-in-your-house-you-should-poison-them
June 3 marks the hundredth day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Meduza's sources say that the Kremlin is trying to play down this fact, but Russian officials continue to assure that everything is going to plan. After three months of intense fighting, Russian forces have managed to occupy large swaths of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in southern Ukraine, but were driven out of the Kyiv region. In mid-April, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that the "second stage" of the invasion was underway. This bloody "battle for the Donbas" remains ongoing. Throughout the invasion, the Ukrainian army has not only defended the country, but also launched counter offensives. For insight into what these 100 days of all-out war have meant for Ukraine and its armed forces, Meduza turned to military expert Mykhailo Samus from the Kyiv-based Center for Army, Conversion, and Disarmament Studies (CACDS). This interview has been edited and abridged for length and clarity. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/04/putin-s-original-plan-has-completely-failed
Tomorrow, June 3, will mark 100 days since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On the eve of this milestone, sources tell Meduza that Putin's administration has "asked" state-controlled and pro-Kremlin media outlets "not to focus attention" on the duration of the "special military operation." Meduza's sources say this is an attempt to elide the fact that Russian troops haven't been able to make significant gains after more than three months of war. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/02/what-has-been-achieved
Russia's all-out war on Ukraine has been deadly for reporters. The Ukrainian Institute of Mass Information has recorded 243 crimes against journalists and the media committed by Russian troops since the start of the full-scale invasion (as of the end of April). At least 32 journalists have died while reporting on the war or fighting on the front lines. Reporters have been tortured and kidnapped, and as of the end of April, at least 15 Ukrainian media workers had gone missing. Over 100 regional Ukrainian outlets have had to shut down due to threats from Russia. In early May, the Pulitzer Prize committee dedicated a special award to all Ukrainian journalists -- for "their bravery, resilience, and commitment to truthful coverage" of the Russian invasion. Five Ukrainian journalists told Meduza about what it's like to live and work in these unprecedented circumstances. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/06/we-re-all-war-correspondents-now
On June 5, Kazakhstan held a referendum on amendments to its Constitution that were proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. If you ask the Kazakhstani government, these amendments are a serious step on the path towards Kazakhstan's democratization. But many political scientists, activists, and Kazakhstani citizens believe that the referendum's main goal is to consolidate Tokayev's own power. Meduza explains what's happened in Kazakhstan since the protests that swept through the country in January, how Sunday's elections went, and how Kazakhstani citizens see the situation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/07/a-twisted-form-of-democracy
Russia's war against Ukraine has unleashed a battle not only between two armies and two societies, but also between two generations of leaders. Indeed, a striking age gap divides Russia and Ukraine's top brass. Vladimir Putin's close associates and key officials were largely born in the 1950s and 1960s. Whereas the most important positions in the Ukrainian leadership and on Volodymyr Zelensky's team are, for the most part, occupied by people born in the 1970s and 1980s. But there's also another clash of generations, one occurring not at the interstate level, but inside Russia itself. Putin's contemporaries are afraid to relinquish power and bequeath it to those who should be their successors. Instead, they've worked to bring the younger generations of would-be leaders to heel, pushing them to the margins of public space or driving them out of the country altogether. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/06/who-is-putin-really-fighting
When announcing the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin justified the "special military operation" by invoking World War II. Russian officials and propagandists on state television have been echoing Putin's claims about the need to "demilitarize and denazify Ukraine" ever since. In a similar vein, since mid-April, Moscow's Museum of the Great Patriotic War (also known as the Victory Museum) has been running an exhibition that supposedly traces the development of a "Ukrainian version of Nazism" from World War II to the present day. Upon visiting the exhibition, Meduza found a bizarre mishmash of information ripped from the Internet, memorabilia from Nazi Germany, and decontextualized TikTok videos from the ongoing war. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/07/ordinary-nazism
Since 2014, the world has gradually been learning about the horrors that occur in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Media reports have described how Uyghurs are put in "vocational training camps," which are effectively concentration camps. People can be put there for the smallest expression of religiosity, and any hope of getting out requires undergoing a "reeducation" process, though some never escape at all. Members of Xinjiang's other ethnic groups are put in the camps, too -- primarily Kazakhs. Since February 2021, the relatives and loved ones of Kazakh people currently being held in the Xinjiang camps have held daily protests outside of the Chinese Consulate in Almaty. Meduza is publishing photographer Ofeliya Zhakaeva's project "Nearby," which focuses on Chinese Kazakhs whose relatives have disappeared into the Xinjiang internment system. She photographed protest participants outside of the Consulate with objects that remind them of their loved ones and recorded their stories. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/07/i-asked-them-to-remove-mom-s-chains-they-refused
The reported annihilation of Russia's 35th Combined Arms Army is one of the most resonant stories to emerge from the front lines in the Donbas in recent days. President Volodymyr Zelensky's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak shared the news on June 4, saying that the 35th Army had been "destroyed" during clashes with Ukraine's Armed Forces near Izyum. Meduza's own news update cited Yermak's claim, albeit with the disclaimer that our journalists could not immediately verify this official statement. Upon further verification, Meduza traced these reports back to their actual original source -- a LiveJournal post by a Russian military blogger who is currently serving in the "Luhansk People's Militia." The post, which provoked controversy among pro-Kremlin military bloggers and has since been removed, doesn't explicitly say that the entire 35th Army was obliterated. Meduza breaks down how a dubious blog post turned into a story reported around the world. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/08/an-uncertain-fate
More than hundred days of Moscow waging war against Ukraine has changed the lives of many Russians. Those opposed to Russia's full-scale invasion initially took to the streets. When the authorities passed criminal penalties for "discrediting" the Russian army, they started taking part in the greater anti-war movement. Many were forced to leave the country. Others went to rallies in support of the "special operation" and parroted the arguments put forth in Russian propaganda about "denazifying" Ukraine. What has changed in Russian society during the war so far? How are Russians getting along with each other, and who is really supporting the "special operation"? Meduza posed these and other questions to sociologist Alexei Titkov. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/08/the-divisions-are-clear
The Kremlin is planning to annex the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine and combine them into a single federal district within Russia, three sources close to the Putin administration told Meduza. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/09/the-tasks-in-the-donbas-are-not-trivial
A lot has changed for Sergey Kiriyenko since Russia began its all-out war against Ukraine. Already the Kremlin's domestic policy czar, Kiriyenko has now managed to get closer to President Vladimir Putin and expand the scope of his powers. In addition to acting as the Kremlin's point man in the Donbas and other Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, sources tell Meduza that Kiriyenko's subordinates have also been tasked with developing a "post-war image" for Russia. One idea in the mix is to present Russia as a "continent of freedom" for right-wing conservatives -- one that preserves the spirit of "old Europe." As it happens, Kiriyenko wouldn't be averse to leading this "continent" himself. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/10/the-viceroy
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine provoked a wave of backlash among members of the Communist Party (KPRF). Communist legislators from regional parliaments and members of the party's youth organization have publicly spoken out against the war, condemning it as "imperialist" and contrary to Marxist-Leninist principles. While some have quit the KPRF in protest, others have been expelled for breaching "party discipline." Meduza looked into what's happening inside the KPRF's regional branches and learned why some of Russia's Communists oppose the war against Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/06/10/defending-the-donbas-is-one-thing-bombing-kyiv-is-another
Rights and freedoms in Russia have been restricted to the point that the country is de facto under martial law. This is the conclusion of a new report authored by prominent human rights experts Pavel Chikov, head of the rights group Agora, and Damir Gainutdinov, head of the Net Freedoms Project. Indeed, against the backdrop of Moscow's month-long invasion of Ukraine, the Russian authorities have moved to impose serious restrictions on basic constitutional rights and freedoms at home. As Chikov and Gainutdinov write, these restrictions have primarily affected freedoms of assembly, speech, and movement, as well as private property rights. Meduza summarizes the report's main findings here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/26/the-war-at-home
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Five weeks ago, 25-year-old contract soldier Albert Sakhibgareyev was in Russia's Belgorod region, several miles from the Ukrainian border, where his brigade was "conducting training exercises." Sakhibgareyev says he and his fellow soldiers would fire "wherever they were ordered to," though what exactly they were firing at was unclear. According to him, he didn't understand he was in a real war until the Ukrainian side started firing back; soon after that, he deserted. Meduza reports on how a soldier from Bashkortostan decided enough was enough. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/25/nobody-understood-what-was-happening
In the first weeks after Vladimir Putin announced his "special military operation" and invaded Ukraine, tens of thousands of Russians flew to Georgia, despite there being no direct flights there from Russia. Many continued on to other countries, but about 12 thousand have stayed. One of those 12 thousand Russians, reports on what problems these Russians have faced -- and how Georgians have responded to the Russian influx. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/25/we-ll-all-go-back-when-the-regime-falls
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the United States and European countries have imposed harsh sanctions against Russia in an attempt to force the country to halt its attacks and withdraw its troops. Russian citizens are already experiencing economic difficulties, including losing their jobs and businesses. Supporters of the sanctions contend that President Vladimir Putin is to blame for this. Could economic losses impact Russian politics and compel the government to reconsider its course? Research Fellow Maxim Ananyev from the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research explains. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/24/a-crisis-of-trust
Today, March 24, 2022, marks one month since Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to undertake a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. These four weeks have changed the country beyond recognition: Ukrainian cities -- from Kharkiv to Volnovakha, and Mariupol to Kherson -- have suffered widespread damage and destruction from bombardments; more than 3.6 million people have been forced to flee abroad as refugees. The United Nations has recorded at least 2,685 civilian casualties, including 1,035 killed and 1,650 injured. The real toll is much higher -- thousands have reportedly died in besieged Mariupol alone. The actual number of military casualties, both Russian and Ukrainian, also remains unknown as yet. To bear witness to this catastrophic month, Meduza shares one photo from each day of Russia's war against Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/24/one-month-later
Before the war came to Kharkiv, Pavel Dorogoy specialized in documentary and archival photography, and captured his hometown's architecture. Today, Pavel mainly works as a volunteer, but he continues to document life in the city during the war. In early March, he started taking photos and videos in the subway stations in one of Kharkiv's outlying neighborhoods, where thousands of local residents hide during air raids. According to Pavel, a single station can shelter up to 500 people in the evenings -- volunteers prepare food (serving children and women first) and, when not taking turns sleeping under piles of blankets, people try to catch a few moments to themselves. Pavel has been living in the subway throughout the war, along with his wife (a station worker) and their two children. With his permission, Meduza shares Pavel Dorogoy's photos and videos of life in Kharkiv's underground. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/23/snapshots-from-underground
It's been 28 days since Russia went to war against Ukraine. And it's been 12 days since the public has laid eyes on Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu. Indeed, as first pointed out by Mediazona journalist Dmitry Treshchanin, Shoigu hasn't appeared in public or in the press since March 11. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/23/sergey-shoigu-where-are-you
Russia's war against Ukraine has been raging for almost a month. In that time, the UN Human Rights Office has recorded more than 2,510 civilian casualties in Ukraine: 953 people killed and 1,557 injured. The UN says the actual toll is much higher. During a press briefing on Wednesday, March 23, Meduza's correspondent asked Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov about the Russian military's role in the growing number of civilian casualties in Ukraine. He replied as follows. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/23/these-aren-t-our-stories
Russia's war against Ukraine has gone on for almost a month now. As pressure from sanctions and other restrictions on the Russian economy grows, Russia's domestic situation is looking worse and worse -- despite the authorities' successful repression of the anti-war movement through threats and arrests. Meduza has learned of recent efforts by the Russian presidential administration to determine which problems concern the population most. Unfortunately for them, the hard part will be solving them. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/23/we-ve-never-been-in-this-situation-before
On March 18, 96-year-old Kharkiv resident Boris Romanchenko, who survived four Nazi concentration camps, died when his apartment was hit by a Russian shell. Romanchenko lived in North Saltovka, a district that's been under fire since the earlier days of the war. According to his granddaughter, his apartment building "burned down completely." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/23/holocaust-survivor-killed-by-russian-shelling-in-kharkiv
On March 20, mathematician Konstantin Olmezov died by suicide in Moscow. Originally from Donetsk, Olmezov moved to Russia to pursue a career as a mathematician. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Olmezov tried to leave the country, but was arrested and sentenced to administrative detention; after being released, he died by suicide. In his suicide note, he wrote, "For me, not being free is worth than death." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/23/i-d-rather-lose-my-life-than-my-freedom
War has completely changed the lives of millions of Ukrainians. While some fight for their country's freedom, millions have been forced to flee abroad as refugees. Others remain in their homes, struggling to survive in wartime conditions and waiting to reunite with their loved ones. Iryna Egorchenko is a 43-year-old community leader in Kyiv, whose son is fighting in besieged Mariupol. When she spoke to Meduza, Iryna hadn't heard from her son in almost a week. But she refuses to give up hope or give in to fear. In her own words, Iryna explains why she believes in bright future for Ukraine -- and for Russia, too. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/23/my-prayers-alone-cannot-save-him
Mariupol has been under siege for more than three weeks. More than 200,000 civilians remain trapped in the city, despite repeated attempts at evacuations. According to the Ukrainian authorities, around 20,000 Mariupol residents managed to flee through a humanitarian corridor on March 15. But a lucky few managed to get out of the city even earlier. Meduza spoke to one such person: Alexey, whose name has been changed for security reasons, was born and raised in Mariupol. In recent years, he's been living in Kyiv, but he returned to his hometown on February 24, to celebrate his grandmother's birthday. That same day, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Alexey ended up trapped in besieged Mariupol for almost three weeks. He escaped the city along with his parents and 10-year-old sister on March 14. Here's how he and his family survived. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/22/we-were-lucky-only-two-mortar-shells-hit-our-house
Like other sectors of the Russian economy, the book market hasn't been spared the fallout from Moscow's war against Ukraine and the ensuing Western sanctions. Despite the fact that many competing forms of entertainment are now unavailable to people in Russia, there are few reasons for those in the book business to celebrate. For Meduza, literary critic Galina Yuzefovich breaks down the problems facing Russia's publishing industry today and what writers, publishers, booksellers, and readers fear is yet to come. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/22/publish-or-perish
Kamran Manafly is a 28-year-old schoolteacher in Moscow. Or rather he was until recently, when he lost his job after refusing to follow state guidelines on how to discuss Russia's "special military operation in Ukraine" with students. The final straw for the administrators was a photograph Manafly shared on Instagram from an antiwar protest where he wrote that he "doesn't want to be a mirror of government propaganda." The school fired him for "immoral behavior," and a security guard later attacked him when he tried to retrieve his belongings from his office. Within days, the principal even threatened to have him prosecuted for "betraying the Motherland." Meduza spoke to Manafly about his dismissal and subsequent decision to leave Russia altogether. What follows is his story, told in his own words. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/21/the-geography-teacher-who-said-no
Working in exile, Alexey Navalny's team of anti-corruption activists have released a new investigation linking a $700-million superyacht to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The luxury vessel, officially registered to an offshore company in the Marshall Islands, is allegedly crewed by members of Russia's Secret Service (the FSO). Navalny's team published the investigation on the eve of the Kremlin critic's sentencing in yet another criminal trial. Navalny, who is currently serving more than 2.5 years in prison, could see his term extended to 13 years behind bars on new charges of fraud and contempt of court. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/21/at-sea-with-the-fso
Russian troops have been shelling Kharkiv nonstop for over three weeks now. The city's residential areas and historic center are completely destroyed, and necessities like food and medicines are difficult to come by. More than 100 civilians have been killed, while hundreds of thousands of others have fled the city. Meduza spoke to some of the people who remain about what life is like in Kharkiv and what's motivating them to stay. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/21/we-know-ukraine-will-win-but-will-we-survive
In early March, the Telegram channel ZaTelecom published several government documents, which seemingly hinted that the Russian authorities were preparing to disconnect the country from the "external" Internet. The authenticity of these memos has yet to be confirmed. At this writing, Russia remains connected to the global Internet -- but could the authorities really pull the plug? For answers to this and other key questions, Meduza turned to lawyer Sarkis Darbinyan, the co-founder of the digital rights group Roskomsvoboda. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/21/digital-darkness
As the war against Ukraine grinds on, Russia's state television networks continue to rack up resignations. Last week, Channel One employee Marina Ovsyannikova staged a one-person antiwar protest on a live news broadcast; special correspondent Zhanna Agalakova resigned from the network at the same time. Shortly after, Dmitry Likin, who has worked as Channel One's art director for over 20 years, submitted his resignation as well. Meduza special correspondent Svetlana Reiter spoke with Likin about his decision. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/21/i-was-taught-that-every-life-is-priceless
On March 14, during a live broadcast on Russian state television network Channel One, a station employee named Marina Ovsyannikova ran out on stage behind the news anchor, unfurled an antiwar sign, and shouted antiwar slogans. After the broadcast, Ovsyannikova was immediately arrested; she was later convicted of participating in an unauthorized protest and fined 30 thousand rubles (about $250). The authorities are now conducting a preliminary inquiry into Ovsyannikova. Meduza special correspondent Svetlana Reiter spoke with Ovsyannikova about her start at Channel One in the 2000s -- and why this war was her breaking point. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/21/the-cognitive-dissonance-became-unbearable
The war arrived in Kyiv on February 24, the day Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Three weeks later, what's happening on the front lines indicates that Moscow still hopes to take the Ukrainian capital -- Russian forces are still trying to encircle Kyiv (albeit unsuccessfully). Many of the city's residents have fled. Mayor Vitaly Klitchko says "one in two" have left, which means the local population has dwindled to less than two million people. All of Kyiv's remaining residents -- and not only those who are taking part in the defense -- are bracing themselves for encirclement and siege. After spending a week and a half in Kyiv, Meduza special correspondent Liliya Yapparova reports on how the war has changed this previously vibrant city beyond recognition. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/19/they-re-already-on-their-way
Almost every weekday, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov holds a briefing where he responds to questions from journalists, including those reporting from abroad like Meduza. Below is an excerpt from Peskov's briefing on March 17. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/18/the-traitors-will-disappear-on-their-own
On March 16, Vladimir Putin held a meeting on "socioeconomic support measures for Russia's regions." At the beginning of the meeting, he gave a speech dedicated not just to the war but to a "fifth column" within Russian society -- "traitors" who have a "slavish mentality." Read Meduza's brief retelling of Putin's speech below. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/18/the-purification-of-society-will-only-strengthen-the-country
On March 16, both RT and Radio Sputnik reported that a "founding congress" for "a new governing body" called the "Rescue Committee for Peace and Order" had been held in Ukraine's Kherson region. RT's reporting included a video that shows several people sitting at a table in the regional administration building; one man says that the "current regional authority has effectively ceased to exist" and that the region needs a structure "that can take responsibility for restoring order." He then adds that "for him personally," "the Russian Federation is a priority." Both RT and Sputnik's articles are titled "Kherson's new regional authorities call for establishing ties with Russia." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/18/what-s-going-on-in-russian-occupied-ukraine
After three weeks of all-out war, Ukrainian officials have begun to show "a degree of cautious optimism" about the talks underway with Russia. On March 16, Ukrainian presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych even suggested that Kyiv "should reach an agreement with Russia now or within a week or two." In a special interview for Meduza, Kit journalist Elizaveta Antonova spoke with Mykhailo Podolyak -- an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff, who has been taking part in the negotiations. Here's how he assessed the prospects of a peace deal. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/18/they-don-t-know-ukraine
On Tuesday, March 15, the world learned of the deaths of two more journalists in Ukraine. Their car was shot at on March 14 in the village of Horenka, near Hostomel. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/18/three-weeks-in
The first photos and videos featuring Russian military vehicles with an unknown marking on their sides appeared on social media several weeks before the start of the war. Most often, it was the letter Z, either inside of a box or without it; there were also V's. The letters were most likely tactical markings referring to Russia's various military districts. Then, in a matter of days, Z and V (but especially Z) essentially became the official symbol of Moscow's "special military operation." Whose idea was it to make Z one of the key elements of Russian propaganda? No one knows for sure. The organizers of the rallies and allegedly spontaneous flash mobs across the country, tasked with depicting nationwide support for the invasion, don't actually know what Z means. Meduza found a man who claims it was his and his associates' idea, commandeered by the state propaganda machine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/16/z
There's no doubt that the sanctions passed against Russia by the U.S., the EU, and others will have an enormous effect on Russia's economy, while the exodus of international companies from the Russian market will have a significant impact on the country's employment rate. To get a sense of how these changes will affect people's lives, Meduza spoke to Natalia Zubarevich, an economist and geographer who has spent her career studying economic development and its distribution in Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/16/is-russia-prepared-for-an-economic-crisis
It's been two days since Roskomnadzor blocked Instagram in Russia. The agency, which is in charge of telecommunications control and censorship, believes that the social network is filled with "calls to commit violent actions against Russian citizens and military personnel." Russia's Attorney General has called for Meta, Instagram's parent company, to be blacklisted as an "extremist organization." At present, the social network is still accessible through VPN, but no one knows if circumventing the block could lead to criminal charges. We asked Meduza readers about what Instagram has meant to them. Here are their answers. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/16/this-destroys-my-five-years-of-hard-work
On the first day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, protests broke out across the world. Weeks later, thousands of people continue taking to the streets to demand Russian troops leave Ukrainian territory and stop the war. Many of them use a symbol that began appearing alongside traditional Ukrainian flags in late February: the white-blue-white flag, whose advocates say Russia's traditional tricolor flag is tied to bloodshed. Meduza tells the story of this flag's creation -- and what its future might hold. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/16/a-new-symbol-of-russia-s-anti-war-movement
On March 15, 2022, in Correctional Colony No. 2 in the town of Pokrov in Russia's Vladimir region, Alexey Navalny was put on trial yet again. Federal prosecutors asked Moscow's Lefortovo court to sentence Navalny, who stands accused of fraud and contempt of court, to 13 years in a maximum security penal colony. Navalny used the opportunity to address the public, giving two emotional pleas: one during oral arguments and another during his closing statement. According to Mediazona, the courtroom broadcast was repeatedly interrupted, so journalists weren't able to hear all of what was said. Below are both of Navalny's statements, with some unavoidable omissions. The first comes from The Insider, and the second comes from Mediazona. The verdict will be announced at 10 am on March 22. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/16/this-will-lead-to-our-country-s-collapse
During a live broadcast on Monday evening, March 14, on Channel One Russian state television, a station employee named Marina Ovsyannikova ran out on stage behind the news anchor, unfurled an antiwar sign, and shouted antiwar slogans. Ovsyannikova managed just a few seconds on the air before the transmission cut away to another segment. She was later arrested, held overnight, convicted the following evening of the misdemeanor offense of inciting unpermitted protests in a prerecorded statement that circulated on social media, fined 30,000 rubles (roughly $250), and released. Federal investigators are still reviewing her televised protest and might press separate, possibly felony charges. Meduza spoke to Ovsyannikova's colleagues and pieced together her story. Though she alone has even dared such a disruption of Russian broadcast television, Ovsyannikova's personal opposition to the war against Ukraine is not uncommon among those who work for Russian state TV, Meduza learned. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/16/everyone-knows-they-re-lying
The town of Volnovakha lies 60 kilometers (almost 40 miles) outside Donetsk. Or rather it used to. On March 11, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that soldiers from the self-declared Donetsk People's Republic had "liberated" the town. Ukrainian officials phrased this a bit differently, saying that Volnovakha no longer exists. Before Moscow's full-scale invasion, more than 20,000 people lived here. Look at it now. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/14/behold-russia-s-liberation
Over the last few weeks, thousands of people have fled Russia, hoping to avoid the domestic political, social, and economic consequences of war. But those people are in the minority -- not everyone can leave home and move to a new country with such little notice, no matter how much they might want to. Some people have remained in Russia for family reasons, others can't afford to leave, while others have made conscious decisions not to leave on principle. We asked our readers to tell us why they decided to stay in Russia (or why they didn't have a choice), and we're publishing their answers below. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/14/we-re-on-the-titanic-and-it-s-just-hit-the-iceberg
For over two weeks, Mariupol has been under siege: water, food, medicine, electricity, and means of communicating with the outside world are all scarce. Meanwhile, Russian bombs continue to fall. On March 9, the Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian forces had bombed the maternity wing of the city's Hospital No. 3. Kyiv later announced that the airstrike had killed three people (including a child) and injured 17 others. The Russian government tried (unsuccessfully) to convince people the story was fake, and that the photo and video evidence had been "staged." Meduza spoke to Ukrainian journalist Artem Popov, who managed to escape from Mariupol last week, about life under siege. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/14/they-bury-their-neighbors-wherever-they-can
The millions of families spread across Russia and Ukraine now find themselves on opposite sides of a war. And in recent weeks, many on the Ukrainian side of the border have learned the hard way that their relatives in Russia would rather believe the Kremlin's story than their family's first-hand accounts. Meduza spoke with Ukrainians who have had trouble convincing their Russian relatives of even the most basic facts about the war in Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/14/the-tv-is-winning
It's now been more than two weeks since Vladimir Putin launched an all-out war against Ukraine. Russian troops began rolling across the border on the morning of February 24, immediately after Putin announced the start of a "special military operation" (a Kremlin euphemism for invasion). In an address broadcast on state television, Putin claimed, among other things, that he wanted to bring to trial "those who committed numerous, bloody crimes against civilians, including citizens of the Russian Federation." During the first week of the war, Meduza spoke to five Russian nationals who moved to Ukraine in recent years and made the country their home. Here's how the war has upended their lives -- and why they intend to stay in Ukraine in spite of it. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/14/people-from-my-country-came-to-kill-me
Russia's latest criminal trial of jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny got underway on Tuesday, February 15. Already serving a nearly three-year prison sentence, Navalny now stands accused of fraud and contempt of court -- charges that could prolong his incarceration by up to 15 years. In a strange twist, Moscow's Lefortovsky District Court held Tuesday's hearing offsite, at the penal colony in the Vladimir region where Navalny has been in custody since February 2021. In the following explainer, Meduza asks and answers key questions about the proceedings. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/16/in-prison-and-on-trial
On February 15, the Russian State Duma sent a motion to President Vladimir Putin calling for diplomatic recognition of the pro-Russian "republics" in eastern Ukraine. In turn, Putin gave an evasive, informal response: the lawmakers, he said, were "guided by public opinion" and Russians' widespread sympathy for the inhabitants of the Donbas -- however, this issue should be resolved on the basis of the Minsk agreements. At the same time, Putin made sure to recall that Ukraine hasn't fulfilled its obligations under the accords. To help make sense of this new gambit, Meduza turned to a number of foreign policy experts -- they believe that (for now) the threat of "recognition" is nothing more than another means of upping the pressure on Ukraine and the West. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/17/a-straw-in-the-wind
On Wednesday, February 16, law enforcement officers raided the Moscow home of political analyst Valery Solovey. Solovey and his son Pavel were then taken to the Russian Investigative Committee for questioning. As it turns out, Solovey is considered a witness in a criminal investigation into felony hate speech. Solovey and his son were released late Wednesday evening after being questioned. According to unofficial reports, the felony investigation is connected to an anonymous Telegram account called "SVR General" -- allegedly, Solovey may have been involved in creating content for this channel, which regularly criticizes the Russian authorities. Meduza recounts how Valery Solovey, a former professor at Moscow's prestigious MGIMO University, became an extravagant political commentator known for his colorful (and increasingly wild) conspiracy theories. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/18/the-professor-and-his-prophecies
On Thursday, February 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a written response to Washington's counter-proposals on security guarantees in Europe. Unlike the response Moscow received from the U.S. and NATO earlier this month, which wasn't officially made public (though the full text was leaked to Spanish newspaper El Pais), the Russian Foreign Ministry published its 10-page commentary in full. Here's what it says, in a nutshell. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/17/moscow-s-package-deal
The tensions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine crisis have continued to escalate with no end in sight. On Thursday, February 17, U.S. President Joe Biden said that there's still a "very high" threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, warning that this could happen "in the next several days." The Kremlin, meanwhile, underscored that it has no plans of backtracking on its demands for comprehensive security guarantees from Washington and NATO. Moscow raised the stakes again earlier this week when the State Duma adopted an official resolution urging President Vladimir Putin to recognize the self-proclaimed "republics" in eastern Ukraine. Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev uncovers why this step was taken and how it was orchestrated. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/18/raising-the-stakes
On Friday, February 18, the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics" announced that increased tensions in eastern Ukraine necessitated mass evacuations. Over the next three days, more than 60,000 people were relocated to Russia, according to official reports. In total, 43 Russian regions have agreed to take in evacuees. President Vladimir Putin has also ordered the Russian government to pay 10,000 rubles ($130) to each "refugee." Be that as it may, confusion reigned at Russia's reception centers over the weekend, as local authorities scrambled to accommodate the sudden influx of people. Several Russian regions have even declared a state of emergency. So far, evacuees are being put up in schools, hotels, summer camp facilities, and even makeshift tent camps. Meduza shares snapshots from the evacuation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/21/60-000-and-counting
Vladimir Putin has officially recognized the independence of the self-proclaimed "republics" in eastern Ukraine. The Russian president signed the corresponding decree on Monday, February 21, following a lengthy address to the nation. The issue of recognizing the "Donetsk People's Republic" (DNR) and "Luhansk People's Republic" (LNR) was also discussed at length during an extraordinary meeting of the Russian Security Council earlier in the day. Speaking at the meeting, Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev suggested that Moscow recognize the "historical" boundaries of Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions as the breakaway territories' frontiers. However, this elides the fact that a significant portion of the territories the DNR and LNR claim remain under the control of the Ukrainian government. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/22/territorial-claims
The Kremlin's handling of recognition for the self-proclaimed separatist "republics" in eastern Ukraine has raised many questions, including purely logistical uncertainties surrounding the National Security Council session, where President Putin ordered senior officials to state their support or opposition to the recognition of the so-called DNR and LNR. The gathering was made available to the public in an unusual national broadcast on Monday evening. At first glance, the event seemed to be aired live, but some noticed signs (such as the time displayed on different wristwatches) that the footage was prerecorded and even edited. These viewers were right. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/22/many-moments-were-not-included
Russia recognized the self-proclaimed "people's republics" in eastern Ukraine on February 21. President Vladimir Putin formally announced the decision following a National Security Council meeting that looked more like staged production than an actual debate. Senior Russian officials expressed unanimous support for recognition, even though it appeared to be a sure path towards an all-out war with Ukraine. At the same time, Putin claimed there was broad public support for the move. Will we see a repeat of the "Crimean consensus" that emerged after Moscow annexed the peninsula in 2014? And how do ordinary Russians really feel about the Kremlin's further intervention into Ukraine? Meduza turns to sociologist and Levada Center director Denis Volkov for insight. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/23/traumatized-by-the-news
On February 21, 2022, Vladimir Putin delivered a 56-minute televised national address that ended with his announcement that Russia would recognize the independence of eastern Ukraine's self-declared separatist "republics." The president spent most of the speech, however, contesting Ukrainian statehood and arguing that the government in Kyiv owes its territory today to the supposed generosity of the Bolsheviks, particularly Vladimir Lenin. To understand the scholarly merits of Ukrainian and Soviet history as presented by Mr. Putin, Meduza turned to Dr. Victoria Smolkin, a historian at Wesleyan University who studies Communism, the Cold War, as well as atheism and religion in the former Soviet Union. She is also the author of the 2018 book "A Sacred Space Is Never Empty: A History of Soviet Atheism." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/24/fantasy-is-not-history
Early in the morning on February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the start of a "special military operation" on Ukrainian territory -- in reality, he started a full-scale war against Ukraine. Several days earlier, Russian women began posting on social media that their sons, currently doing their mandatory military service in the Russian army, had been sent to the Ukrainian border and subsequently gone silent. Meduza spoke with some of the soldiers' relatives to learn about their whereabouts. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/26/i-m-panicking-where-is-my-child
Three days into the war against Ukraine, Russia's Defense Ministry has yet to report any losses, both in terms of military personnel and technical equipment. Russian state media outlets have also been silent on this front. Two anonymous sources -- one at a major wire agency and one at a federal television channel -- confirmed to Meduza that their newsrooms received a memo telling them to rely strictly on "official Russian state sources" in their reporting. These consist mostly of briefings held once per day by Russian Defense Ministry representative Igor Konashenkov. The journalists were also told not to cite any Ukrainian state sources, with an exception for announcements by the Ukrainian government about its own losses to Russian forces. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/26/unreliable-at-best
Three days into the war against Ukraine, Russia's Defense Ministry has yet to report any losses, both in terms of military personnel and technical equipment. Russian state media outlets have also been silent on this front. Two anonymous sources -- one at a major wire agency and one at a federal television channel -- confirmed to Meduza that their newsrooms received a memo telling them to rely strictly on "official Russian state sources" in their reporting. These consist mostly of briefings held once per day by Russian Defense Ministry representative Igor Konashenkov. The journalists were also told not to cite any Ukrainian state sources, with an exception for announcements by the Ukrainian government about its own losses to Russian forces. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/26/unreliable-at-best
On February 17, the breakaway governments in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions began spreading claims of a massive Ukrainian artillery attack on the territories they control. The leaders of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics" used these claims not only to evacuate women and children into Russia but also to implement a universal conscription policy among men between 18 and 55 for "the protection of the Donbas and of all Russian people." On February 23 and 24, the self-proclaimed republics reported a successful military recruitment campaign that allegedly brought in many new volunteer troops. However, local residents told Meduza that soldiers are conducting raids to sweep the streets for potential conscripts. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/27/stay-hidden-or-get-drafted
On February 17, the breakaway governments in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions began spreading claims of a massive Ukrainian artillery attack on the territories they control. The leaders of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics" used these claims not only to evacuate women and children into Russia but also to implement a universal conscription policy among men between 18 and 55 for "the protection of the Donbas and of all Russian people." On February 23 and 24, the self-proclaimed republics reported a successful military recruitment campaign that allegedly brought in many new volunteer troops. However, local residents told Meduza that soldiers are conducting raids to sweep the streets for potential conscripts. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/27/stay-hidden-or-get-drafted
It's now been four days since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Yesterday, Russian troops advanced into Kyiv and continued shelling the city. As fighting took place on the streets of the Ukrainian capital, Meduza reached out to different Kyiv residents for eyewitness accounts of this past week's events. Some of the people we spoke to were hiding in shelters, others had decided to join territorial defense groups, and some were evacuating the city altogether. Here are their stories. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/27/i-ve-seen-the-corpses-but-i-haven-t-left-kyiv
It's now been four days since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Yesterday, Russian troops advanced into Kyiv and continued shelling the city. As fighting took place on the streets of the Ukrainian capital, Meduza reached out to different Kyiv residents for eyewitness accounts of this past week's events. Some of the people we spoke to were hiding in shelters, others had decided to join territorial defense groups, and some were evacuating the city altogether. Here are their stories. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/27/i-ve-seen-the-corpses-but-i-haven-t-left-kyiv
On the fourth day of fighting in Ukraine, refugees are still pouring out of the country -- more than 368,000 people have already reached Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and other countries, according to the United Nations. Fierce battles continued on the outskirts of the nation's capital, Kyiv, and in the streets of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. For the first time, the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged that its soldiers have been killed and wounded in Ukraine. After several false starts, Kyiv and Moscow, with mediation by Minsk, also agreed tentatively to meet for the first ceasefire negotiations. Meduza presents several photographs from this day in the War for Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/28/day-four-of-the-war
On the fourth day of fighting in Ukraine, refugees are still pouring out of the country -- more than 368,000 people have already reached Poland, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, and other countries, according to the United Nations. Fierce battles continued on the outskirts of the nation's capital, Kyiv, and in the streets of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. For the first time, the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged that its soldiers have been killed and wounded in Ukraine. After several false starts, Kyiv and Moscow, with mediation by Minsk, also agreed tentatively to meet for the first ceasefire negotiations. Meduza presents several photographs from this day in the War for Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/28/day-four-of-the-war
Shelling killed dozens of people in Kharkiv on February 28, Ukraine's Interior Ministry reported. In Kyiv, the fifth day of the Russian invasion was marked by the reopening of grocery stores and public transportation after a tightened curfew. The United Nations estimates that more than 500,000 Ukrainians have already left the country. In Gomel, Belarus, delegations from Russia and Ukraine held talks that ended with the parties agreeing to meet again. Meduza shares snapshots from this day. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/01/day-five-of-the-war
Shelling killed dozens of people in Kharkiv on February 28, Ukraine's Interior Ministry reported. In Kyiv, the fifth day of the Russian invasion was marked by the reopening of grocery stores and public transportation after a tightened curfew. The United Nations estimates that more than 500,000 Ukrainians have already left the country. In Gomel, Belarus, delegations from Russia and Ukraine held talks that ended with the parties agreeing to meet again. Meduza shares snapshots from this day. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/01/day-five-of-the-war
On February 27, the Russian Attorney General's Office promised to "make legal determinations" in the event that any Russian citizen provides "assistance to a foreign state to the detriment of the security of the Russian Federation" during the war with Ukraine. The agency stressed that providing any such assistance will be considered state treason, which carries a punishment of 12 to 20 years. Meduza asked lawyer Ivan Pavlov, head of the human rights group Department One, to explain what this means for Russians who speak out against the war in Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/02/tapping-article-275
On February 27, the Russian Attorney General's Office promised to "make legal determinations" in the event that any Russian citizen provides "assistance to a foreign state to the detriment of the security of the Russian Federation" during the war with Ukraine. The agency stressed that providing any such assistance will be considered state treason, which carries a punishment of 12 to 20 years. Meduza asked lawyer Ivan Pavlov, head of the human rights group Department One, to explain what this means for Russians who speak out against the war in Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/02/tapping-article-275
On the sixth day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces intensified their artillery bombardment of Kharkiv and Kyiv. The Ukrainian side reported dozens of civilian casualties. Russian troops continued to encircle Kyiv, while barricades were built in the city and preparations made for its defense. President Volodymyr Zelensky applied for the rapid accession of Ukraine to the European Union, and the heads of eight EU countries called for Ukraine to be a candidate country. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/02/the-war-day-six
On the sixth day of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces intensified their artillery bombardment of Kharkiv and Kyiv. The Ukrainian side reported dozens of civilian casualties. Russian troops continued to encircle Kyiv, while barricades were built in the city and preparations made for its defense. President Volodymyr Zelensky applied for the rapid accession of Ukraine to the European Union, and the heads of eight EU countries called for Ukraine to be a candidate country. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/02/the-war-day-six
Odesa was among the first cities hit on February 24, when Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The city has been continually shelled since the outbreak of hostilities. Prior to announcing the invasion, Vladimir Putin vowed to punish those responsible for the bloodshed at Odesa's Trade Unions House in 2014. Now, Odesa residents are seeking safety in bomb shelters and are enlisting in territorial defense groups. In a report for Meduza, local journalist Mikhail Shtekel shares stories of the early days of the fighting in Odesa from the people living through it. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/02/we-told-ourselves-it-wasn-t-shelling
Odesa was among the first cities hit on February 24, when Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The city has been continually shelled since the outbreak of hostilities. Prior to announcing the invasion, Vladimir Putin vowed to punish those responsible for the bloodshed at Odesa's Trade Unions House in 2014. Now, Odesa residents are seeking safety in bomb shelters and are enlisting in territorial defense groups. In a report for Meduza, local journalist Mikhail Shtekel shares stories of the early days of the fighting in Odesa from the people living through it. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/02/we-told-ourselves-it-wasn-t-shelling
On February 27, 2015, politician Boris Nemtsov was murdered in the center of Moscow. In the final years of his life, he advocated against the military conflict in East Ukraine, vocally supported the 2014 Maidan Revolution, and frequently gave interviews with Ukrainian journalists. In the months leading up to his murder, Nemtsov was working on a report about Russian military intervention titled "Putin: War," which was posthumously published by his colleagues. To mark the anniversary of his murder, Meduza is publishing some of the anti-war statements Nemtsov made in the months leading up to his death. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/28/it-s-not-our-war-it-s-putin-s-war
On February 27, 2015, politician Boris Nemtsov was murdered in the center of Moscow. In the final years of his life, he advocated against the military conflict in East Ukraine, vocally supported the 2014 Maidan Revolution, and frequently gave interviews with Ukrainian journalists. In the months leading up to his murder, Nemtsov was working on a report about Russian military intervention titled "Putin: War," which was posthumously published by his colleagues. To mark the anniversary of his murder, Meduza is publishing some of the anti-war statements Nemtsov made in the months leading up to his death. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/28/it-s-not-our-war-it-s-putin-s-war
Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24. Since then, Russian officials have framed this attack a "special military operation" -- although it is in fact a full-scale war (you can read the latest news about it here). In light of these events, we decided to take a look back on what Vladimir Putin has said about war during his 22 years in power. Meduza shares highlights from the Russian leader's anti-war rhetoric here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/01/we-know-the-value-of-peace
Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24. Since then, Russian officials have framed this attack a "special military operation" -- although it is in fact a full-scale war (you can read the latest news about it here). In light of these events, we decided to take a look back on what Vladimir Putin has said about war during his 22 years in power. Meduza shares highlights from the Russian leader's anti-war rhetoric here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/01/we-know-the-value-of-peace
On February 24, Russia began a war with Ukraine. On that same day, protests broke out all over Russia. It is difficult to call them mass demonstrations in any real sense, although ultimately almost 6,500 people were arrested (in Russia, street gatherings of this type are practically forbidden, with the authorities persecuting even individuals who picket alone). Sociologist Grigory Yudin, too, was arrested and ended up hospitalized following an anti-war protest in Moscow. Meduza special correspondent Svetlana Reiter discussed with Yudin why it doesn't make sense to call protests in Russia "small" -- and why he thinks scholars have to take a principled stand. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/02/why-no-mass-protests-in-russia
On February 24, Russia began a war with Ukraine. On that same day, protests broke out all over Russia. It is difficult to call them mass demonstrations in any real sense, although ultimately almost 6,500 people were arrested (in Russia, street gatherings of this type are practically forbidden, with the authorities persecuting even individuals who picket alone). Sociologist Grigory Yudin, too, was arrested and ended up hospitalized following an anti-war protest in Moscow. Meduza special correspondent Svetlana Reiter discussed with Yudin why it doesn't make sense to call protests in Russia "small" -- and why he thinks scholars have to take a principled stand. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/02/why-no-mass-protests-in-russia
War came to Ukraine's Donbas region in the spring of 2014, after some residents in the country's east refused to accept the revolutionary change of power in Kyiv. In April of that year, pro-Russian protesters in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv declared the formation of "people's republics" independent from Ukraine. Kyiv quickly regained control of Kharkiv, but a full-fledged war broke out in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with Russia providing explicit and tacit support to the "people's republics" -- including in the form of material and military aid. The "hot" phase of the conflict formally ended with the signing of the Minsk agreements in February 2015, although clashes and shelling continued. For seven years thereafter, the conflict seemed "frozen" -- a common phenomenon in global politics. Throughout this period, American photographer Brendan Hoffman captured both civilians and combatants who found themselves on different sides of the conflict. Meduza shares his snapshots here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/03/a-brief-history-of-the-donbas-war-in-photos
We're publishing this text while there's still time for us to mark the beginning of yet another historic development: Russia has officially introduced state censorship. What do we mean by "still time"? Within a few days, maybe even today, it is possible that there will be no independent media left in Russia. Very soon, it's possible that anyone in Russia seeking information from the "enemy voices" of independent sources will need to make the same efforts as those who lived behind the Iron Curtain. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/03/you-can-t-silence-us
On the morning of February 24, Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation," saying its purpose was the liberation of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics and the "de-Nazification" and "demilitarization" of Ukraine. Russia then sent its troops into Ukraine. Fighting in the vicinity of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, and other cities has continued for several days. People are hiding in shelters, subway stations, and underground parking garages. Others are fleeing to neighboring countries -- the United Nations says more than 1 million refugees have now left Ukraine. These photos were taken during the seventh day of the war. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/03/the-war-day-seven
How did this war with Ukraine even become a possibility? According to Meduza's Ideas editor, Maxim Trudolyubov, the answer to this question can be found in the political alternate "reality" developed in Russia in recent years on the basis of lies, manipulation, and the production of fakes. This "reality" had seemed so crudely constructed that it was impossible to imagine anyone in charge (especially those who created it) to believe it seriously. As it turns out, however, somebody does believe it. His name is Vladimir Putin. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/04/putin-s-last-stand
War came to Ukraine's Donbas region in the spring of 2014, after some residents in the country's east refused to accept the revolutionary change of power in Kyiv. In April of that year, pro-Russian protesters in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv declared the formation of "people's republics" independent from Ukraine. Kyiv quickly regained control of Kharkiv, but a full-fledged war broke out in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with Russia providing explicit and tacit support to the "people's republics" -- including in the form of material and military aid. The "hot" phase of the conflict formally ended with the signing of the Minsk agreements in February 2015, although clashes and shelling continued. For seven years thereafter, the conflict seemed "frozen" -- a common phenomenon in global politics. Throughout this period, American photographer Brendan Hoffman captured both civilians and combatants who found themselves on different sides of the conflict. Meduza shares his snapshots here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/03/a-brief-history-of-the-donbas-war-in-photos
We're publishing this text while there's still time for us to mark the beginning of yet another historic development: Russia has officially introduced state censorship. What do we mean by "still time"? Within a few days, maybe even today, it is possible that there will be no independent media left in Russia. Very soon, it's possible that anyone in Russia seeking information from the "enemy voices" of independent sources will need to make the same efforts as those who lived behind the Iron Curtain. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/03/you-can-t-silence-us
On the morning of February 24, Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation," saying its purpose was the liberation of the self-declared Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics and the "de-Nazification" and "demilitarization" of Ukraine. Russia then sent its troops into Ukraine. Fighting in the vicinity of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mariupol, and other cities has continued for several days. People are hiding in shelters, subway stations, and underground parking garages. Others are fleeing to neighboring countries -- the United Nations says more than 1 million refugees have now left Ukraine. These photos were taken during the seventh day of the war. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/03/the-war-day-seven
The war in Ukraine is already well into its ninth day. More than a million people have become refugees, according to the United Nations. Cities still under bombardment are approaching a humanitarian catastrophe. During the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks on March 3, the parties agreed to establish humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, and the delivery of medicines and food. The following images are from the eighth day of the war. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/04/the-war-day-eight
Russia's invasion of Ukraine resulted in harsh sanctions from the West. The ruble exchange rate crashed, several Russian banks have been cut off from SWIFT, and the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves are blocked. We asked Meduza readers what effect sanctions -- and Moscow's response measures -- have already had on their lives, and what they plan to do going forward. Here's what they told us. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/05/i-ll-be-depressed-and-i-ll-cut-costs
The war in Ukraine is already well into its ninth day. More than a million people have become refugees, according to the United Nations. Cities still under bombardment are approaching a humanitarian catastrophe. During the second round of Russia-Ukraine talks on March 3, the parties agreed to establish humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians, and the delivery of medicines and food. The following images are from the eighth day of the war. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/04/the-war-day-eight
Russia's invasion of Ukraine resulted in harsh sanctions from the West. The ruble exchange rate crashed, several Russian banks have been cut off from SWIFT, and the Central Bank's foreign exchange reserves are blocked. We asked Meduza readers what effect sanctions -- and Moscow's response measures -- have already had on their lives, and what they plan to do going forward. Here's what they told us. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/05/i-ll-be-depressed-and-i-ll-cut-costs
On March 1, Dmitry Volkostrelov lost his job as artistic director of Moscow's Meyerhold Center for theater and culture. A day earlier, the Meyerhold Center's director, Elena Kovalskaya, resigned in protest over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Volkostrelov, he was offered the "chance" to resign voluntarily -- when he refused, Moscow's Culture Department fired him without cause. In an interview with Meduza, Dmitry Volkostrelov recounts the circumstances surrounding his dismissal. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/06/fired-for-speaking-out
On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, under the pretext of defending two unrecognized, Kremlin-backed "republics" in the country's east. Before this, since it began in 2014, the conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region had waxed and waned, resulting in thousands of casualties on both sides. To find out more about life in the Donbas over the past eight years, Meduza turned to human rights and humanitarian law expert Varvara Pakhomenko, who was part of the UN mission in Ukraine from 2016 to 2018, and went on to work as the country director for Ukraine for the humanitarian organization Geneva Call. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/06/from-frozen-conflict-to-full-scale-invasion
On March 1, Dmitry Volkostrelov lost his job as artistic director of Moscow's Meyerhold Center for theater and culture. A day earlier, the Meyerhold Center's director, Elena Kovalskaya, resigned in protest over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. According to Volkostrelov, he was offered the "chance" to resign voluntarily -- when he refused, Moscow's Culture Department fired him without cause. In an interview with Meduza, Dmitry Volkostrelov recounts the circumstances surrounding his dismissal. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/06/fired-for-speaking-out
On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, under the pretext of defending two unrecognized, Kremlin-backed "republics" in the country's east. Before this, since it began in 2014, the conflict in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region had waxed and waned, resulting in thousands of casualties on both sides. To find out more about life in the Donbas over the past eight years, Meduza turned to human rights and humanitarian law expert Varvara Pakhomenko, who was part of the UN mission in Ukraine from 2016 to 2018, and went on to work as the country director for Ukraine for the humanitarian organization Geneva Call. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/06/from-frozen-conflict-to-full-scale-invasion
According to United Nations estimates, more than 1.5 million Ukrainian have become refugees since Russia invaded. In cities still under bombardment, the situation is becoming a humanitarian catastrophe. During the second round of Russian-Ukrainian talks on March 3, the parties agreed to establish humanitarian corridors for the evacuation of civilians and the delivery of medicines and food. UN officials also say the war has killed at least 330 civilians and injured at least 675. These images are from the ninth day of the war. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/06/homes-ablaze-schools-in-ruins-and-utter-catastrophe
Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian residents fleeing Russia's invasion have traveled to Lviv, a city near the Polish border that was previously home to about 720,000 people. Lviv has experienced air raid sirens, but it hasn't seen active fighting on the scale seen in cities further east. Some displaced people have decided to stay there in hopes of waiting out the war. Others have continued onward to EU countries: Poland alone has received more than 885,000 people, according to the UN Refugee Agency. Journalist Andrii Ianitskyi was among those who fled rocket attacks in Kyiv for the relative safety of Lviv. Meduza asked him to explain how the city has become a place of refuge for people from all over Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/06/between-chaos-and-order
It's been 11 days since the war in Ukraine began. Protesters across the world have voiced their opposition to the war -- including in Russia, where about 4,400 people were arrested on March 6 for protesting in cities throughout the country. In Ukraine itself, attempts to evacuate civilians from Mariupol and Irpen, a city in the Kyiv region, were thwarted; the Russian side claims the Ukrainian army is to blame, though Ukrainian news outlets have reported that Russian troops intentionally fired on civilians. Meduza presents a collection of photos from the 11th day of the war. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/07/the-war-day-eleven
Eleven days ago, Vladimir Putin launched an all-out war against Ukraine. Since then, there have been daily anti-war protests across Russia. More than 13,000 people have been detained at demonstrations in at least 147 Russian cities since February 24, according to the independent monitor OVD-Info. On Sunday, March 6, a nationwide wave of rallies was met with the harshest response yet -- law enforcement officers carried out mass arrests, detaining more than 4,800 people in 69 cities. In some cases, protesters were beaten, grabbed by their hair, doused in water and antiseptic, or even tasered. Thus far, the rights group Apologia Protesta has recorded more than 30 complaints about police and Russian National Guard officers using undue force and less-lethal weapons against protesters. Meduza shares snapshots from the demonstrations here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/07/march-6-in-photos
According to opinion polls from VTsIOM (the Russian Public Opinion Research Center) and FOM (the Public Opinion Fund), more than 60 percent of Russians support the "special military operation" in Ukraine. But those results should be taken with a grain of salt: the same polls show that millions of people are opposing the war. Also, among the young residents of big cities who rarely watch television and get most of their information from the Internet, the war's opponents are actually the majority. Exclusively for Meduza, University of Exeter sociologist Dr. Alexey Bessudnov offers the following analysis of the VTsIOM poll. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/07/russia-s-tricky-opinion-polling
When Vladimir Putin declared war on Ukraine on February 24, he cited the Russian Federation's "obligations" as an ally of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk "People's Republics." As it turns out, no such alliance existed at that time. The agreements regarding mutual cooperation did not come into force until a day later, on February 25. In other words, according to both international and Russian law, Moscow couldn't possibly have had any legal basis for invading Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/09/unlawful-even-by-russian-standards
The war in Ukraine has been raging for almost two weeks now. In that time, Lviv has become the main transit point for Ukrainian refugees on their way to Europe, most of whom are going to Poland (according to the UN, the migration crisis caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine is "the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II"; 2 million people have already left the country). Meanwhile, residents of Lviv, which has yet to see any combat activity, are preparing to protect their city from Russian invaders. Meduza special correspondent Lilia Yapparova crossed the border from Poland to Ukraine -- here's what she saw. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/08/just-throw-me-into-hell
It's been 14 days since Russia's war against Ukraine began. According to the UN, 2 million people have already left Ukraine -- "the fastest growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II." Many of them have traveled to Lviv, which has become the main transit point for Ukrainian refugees seeking asylum abroad. These photos, taken at Ukrainian and Polish train stations, show Ukrainian civilians as they leave their homes -- and their families -- behind. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/09/leaving-home
Two weeks have passed since Russia invaded Ukraine. Russian troops continue to shell Ukrainian cities as they try to make their way deeper into the country, but Ukrainian defense forces have successfully held them off. Meanwhile, the West (and some non-Western countries) continues to impose new restrictions on the Russian economy -- there are now more sanctions against Russia than against any other country in the world. At the same time, international companies are leaving Russia en masse. To find out whether Russia's top officials were prepared for this war and its consequences, Meduza spoke to some sources from the inside. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/09/blindsided
Russian troops entered Kherson on March 1. Since then, the southern city has been under their de facto control. Ukrainian politician Ihor Kolykhaiev remains the city's mayor. He has already been forced to notify residents of the Russian troops' demands: "walk alone or, at most, in pairs," "do not provoke the soldiers," and "stop what you're doing immediately upon request." This has not, however, prevented Kherson residents from holding large-scale, pro-Ukrainian rallies. Meduza spoke with Kherson-based journalist Konstantin Ryzhenko about the current state of the city. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/09/the-poorer-ones-are-already-starving
According to a new report from American technology company Castellum.AI, there are now more sanctions against Russia than against any other country in the world. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/09/russia-is-the-world-s-top-sanctions-target
A viral audio recording from March 6 -- a day that saw both anti-war protests break out across Russia and the arrests of 4,400 people -- documented the cruel beating and verbal abuse police meted out to artist and feminist activist Alexandra Kaluzhskikh. The 26-year-old managed to smuggle an actively recording phone into the interrogation room. Soon after leaving policy custody, she released the audio online. Meduza contacted Alexandra and asked her to tell her story. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/10/i-heard-screams-and-thought-it-was-important-to-record
In the aftermath of Vladimir Putin launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many Russians have found themselves at loggerheads with their loved ones. With the Kremlin's propaganda machine in full swing, some are having a hard time convincing their relatives that the war being waged in Ukraine is more than just a "special military operation." For other families, opposing the war has been a source of common ground that allowed them to reconcile their political views. Here are some of their stories, as recounted to Meduza. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/11/when-the-blitzkrieg-failed-he-started-to-have-doubts
Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine began on February 24. In the thirteen days since, Russia's defense ministry has only reported casualties once, a week after the war began: 498 casualties on the Russian side. That's currently the only official data we have. One of the few places where parents of missing Russian soldiers can turn for help is the human rights organization Soldiers' Mothers of St. Petersburg. Meduza special correspondent Sasha Sivtsova spoke with the head of the organization, Oksana Paramonova. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/11/the-impulse-to-save-lives-is-gone
Last night, Vladimir Putin announced the start of a "special military operation" in the Donbas. The Russian authorities often use these kinds of euphemisms to hide the obvious, calling their mansions "hotels," dubbing members of the political opposition "extremists," and labeling independent journalists "foreign agents." We, however, believe in calling things what they are: Russia has begun a full-scale war against Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/24/no-to-war
Russia has attacked Ukraine. This is a war. Inside Russia, the authorities have imposed a new level of censorship, blocking all independent media agencies -- including TV Rain and Ekho Moskvy. Throughout the country, anti-war demonstrations have been brutally suppressed, their participants arrested. Prominent figures who have spoken out against the war have been threatened. The authorities and the Kremlin-controlled media (especially the state-owned television networks) have been lying about the war, manipulating public opinion. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/08/meduza-is-granting-open-access-to-all-content-about-the-war-in-ukraine-under-a-creative-commons-license
On March 1, 2022 -- what feels like a century ago -- we sent a message to our newsletter subscribers, warning that the Russian authorities planned to block Meduza along with the last remnants of the country's independent news media. That has now come to pass. Hours ago, we received confirmation that the Federal Service for Supervision in the Sphere of Telecom, Information Technologies, and Mass Communications (known more commonly as Roskomnadzor) is now requiring Internet service providers inside Russia to block access to Meduza's website. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/04/we-ain-t-done-yet
Russia and Ukraine's foreign ministers held talks in Turkey on Thursday, but found little common ground. According to Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, one of Ukraine's main goals was to get Russia to agree to a 24-hour ceasefire. This didn't happen, he said, because "other individuals are in charge of this matter" on the Russian side. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in turn, stated that "nobody has any intention of agreeing to a ceasefire." What the negotiations did bring, though, was a new wave of startling claims from the Russian side. Meduza sorts out the facts below. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/11/the-war-photos-are-fake-but-the-bioweapons-are-real
On March 3, at the direction of Russia's Education Ministry, schools throughout Russia held an open lesson called "Peace Defenders," where children got the chance to learn all about the "liberation mission in Ukraine." This week, it was the parents' turn: "Informational Manipulation: How to Protect Your Children," an online meeting for parents, was held across the nation on March 10. Meduza has obtained copies of the presentation itself and the lesson plan that was given to teachers. We give a rundown of the main talking points below. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/11/why-did-putin-destroy-russia-s-independent-media
Vera Lytovchenko is a violinist from Kharkiv. Because the Russian military has been bombing her city nonstop, she's spent most of her time lately in the basement of her apartment building, where she plays violin for her neighbors. Videos of her playing have been viewed thousands of times on social media and have helped other Ukrainians endure the fear and violence that have become a part of their daily lives. Vera spoke to Meduza about how life has changed since February 24. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/11/a-way-to-let-my-friends-know-i-m-still-alive
As Russia's war against Ukraine enters its third week, President Vladimir Putin is cracking down on his favorite agency -- the FSB. Journalists Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan, who have long specialized in covering Russia's security services, report that the FSB's foreign intelligence arm, the so-called Fifth Service, has become the target of repressions. According to Soldatov and Borogan's sources, its leadership has been placed under house arrest. There is no official confirmation of these reports as yet. For Meduza, Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan explain how the FSB's Ukraine intel got this bad. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/11/from-bad-intel-to-worse
On March 11, a spokesperson for Meta -- the parent company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp -- confirmed that the social media giant had temporarily altered its content moderation to allow some posts calling for violence against "Russian invaders." The response from the Russian authorities was harsh. Federal investigators launched a criminal case against Meta's staff and the Russian Attorney General's Office called for designating the company as an illegal "extremist organization." If the authorities go through with outlawing Meta, millions of Russians could be incriminated in "extremist activity" just for having profiles on Instagram and Facebook. What's more, the social networks' logos would be banned in Russia as "extremist symbols" (just like the swastika, for example). For answers to our questions about what this means for Meta -- and for Russia's Facebook and Instagram users -- Meduza turned to Pavel Chikov, the founder of the human rights group Agora. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/12/incriminating-instagram
In recent days (approximately from the 10th to 14th day of the war), the Russian incursion into the depths of Ukraine has stalled. The columns of advancing Russian battle groups are no longer moving any more than 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) a day. Meanwhile, the army continues to incur losses from Ukrainian counterattacks against the groups at the front as well as ambushes at the rear guard. Ukraine's successes are documented and posted online by journalists and regular citizens with cellphones. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/12/has-russia-s-invasion-stalled
On March 9, the Ukrainian authorities reported that Russian forces had bombed the maternity wing of Hospital No. 3 in Mariupol. Later, Kyiv stated that the airstrike killed three people (including a child) and injured 17 others. Photos of the aftermath captured by Evgeniy Maloletka -- a Ukrainian photographer working in the besieged city -- shocked audiences around the world when they appeared in the international press. The next day, however, an anonymous Telegram channel published claims that the images were "staged," alleging that the maternity hospital was actually "controlled by nationalists" from the far-right Azov Battalion. Pro-Kremlin media outlets then proceeded to spread these allegations far and wide. Ilya Ber -- the publisher and editor-in-chief of Provereno Media, which specializes in debunking fake news -- analyzes these attempts to cast doubt on what happened in Mariupol. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/03/12/definitely-not-staged
In February 2021, 17-year-old Ismail Isayev and 20-year-old Salekh Magamadov were kidnapped by the Chechen authorities and taken from Nizhny Novgorod to Chechnya. According to the two brothers, the authorities subjected them to violence and threats until they agreed to waive their right to legal counsel and confess to being involved in an illegal armed group; investigators accused the brothers of smuggling groceries to Chechen militant Rustam Borchashvili when he was in hiding. Isayev and Magamadov are slated to be sentenced later this week and are facing years behind bars. The brothers' lawyers insist the case is politically motivated. In fact, Isayev and Magamadov were previously detained on suspicion of running an opposition Telegram channel. What's more, one of the brothers is gay and the other is transgender, which puts them at even greater risk of persecution in Chechnya. A petition demanding their release has gathered more than 100,000 signatures so far. The boys' mother, Zara Magamadova, who is currently in hiding from both the Chechen and federal authorities, also maintains her sons' innocence. For Meduza, Zara Magamadova tells her family's harrowing story, in her own words. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/15/i-head-them-screaming
International alarm over the Russian military buildup around Ukraine reached new heights over the weekend of February 12-13. More than 30 countries advised their citizens to leave Ukraine, and several embassies pledged to move West, relocating their staff from Kyiv to Lviv. Meanwhile, U.S. officials keep repeating claims that Russia could further invade Ukraine "at any time." To help make sense of the building tensions, Meduza turns to Russian International Affairs Council director-general Andrey Kortunov. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/14/it-s-a-chain-reaction
On Tuesday, February 15, Russian lawmakers will consider two draft resolutions appealing to President Vladimir Putin to recognize the self-proclaimed "people's republics" in eastern Ukraine, Interfax reports. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/02/14/russian-state-duma-to-consider-draft-resolutions-calling-on-putin-to-recognize-donetsk-and-luhansk-people-s-republics
For St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov, 2022 didn't get off to a good start. The politician, who has faced near-constant criticism for his poor handling of the coronavirus epidemic, has now proven inept at resolving issues related to snow and garbage removal. What's more, it seems as though local residents aren't the only ones getting fed up with Beglov -- St. Petersburg's elites are losing patience with him, too. With Alexander Beglov under more pressure than ever, Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev looks into whether his departure is imminent and who might take up his post. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/12/snow-trash-and-influential-people
In June 2021, the Moscow City Court declared Alexey Navalny's political movement and anti-corruption nonprofits "extremist organizations." Since then, the Russian authorities have been busy launching administrative cases against the Kremlin critic's supporters for "displaying banned symbols" -- including, but not limited to, logos associated with Team Navalny. Because Russia doesn't maintain a list of extremist symbols, these proceedings rely on assessments from expert witnesses. According to lawyers and human rights activists, Russian courts have recently been turning to one witness in particular -- 22-year-old Danila Mikheev, a purported forensic expert who has been denouncing opposition activists since his university days. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/11/it-s-enough-for-the-courts
On Thursday, February 10, a Russian court handed down sentences for terrorism to three teenagers from the Siberian town of Kansk. The boys were arrested in the summer of 2020 for posting leaflets with political slogans on the local FSB building. After searching their phones and uncovering a "plot" to blow up an virtual rendering of an FSB building in the video game Minecraft, investigators charged the teens with making explosives and training to participate in terrorist activities. On Thursday, a military court in the Krasnoyarsk territory sentenced one of the defendants, 16-year-old Nikita Uvarov, to five years in prison. The two other defendants in the case received suspended sentences. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/10/minecraft-terrorism
There will be no official delegation from Russia at this year's Munich Security Conference, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova announced during a briefing on Wednesday, February 9. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/02/09/for-the-first-time-in-more-than-20-years-russia-will-not-send-an-official-delegation-to-the-munich-security-conference
The Russian authorities have been sinking money into domestic alternatives to YouTube for over a year, says a new investigation from iStories and Agentstvo. Allegedly, these Russian video platforms are meant to serve as substitutes in the event that Russia's censorship agency bans YouTube altogether. However, sources say blocking YouTube would be a last resort -- apparently, the authorities in the Kremlin hope that its parent company, Google, can be "forced into submission" through fines and threats to throttle YouTube's traffic. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/09/resurrecting-rutube
Every year, the Russian authorities "create" hundreds of thousands of new citizens -- 720,000 Russian passports have already been issued to residents of Ukraine's Donbas alone. In a sense, however, the Kremlin's actions are not so different from other governments that offer citizenship to foreign nationals in order to (1) expand their sphere of influence abroad and (2) acquire new, loyal electorates. Meanwhile, Russia has deprived nine million of its own citizens of a key civil right -- the right to stand for election -- and pro-government politicians periodically float the idea of depriving opposition-minded Russians of their citizenship. Meduza "Ideas" editor Maxim Trudolyubov breaks down how citizenship has evolved from a privilege to an instrument of control and manipulation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/09/an-outdated-institution
The St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Justice Ministry has asked the courts to liquidate the charitable foundation Sfera, the operator of the Russian LGBT Network. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/02/08/russia-s-justice-ministry-seeks-dissolution-of-charitable-foundation-behind-russian-lgbt-network
Russia has designated 75 individuals as "media foreign agents." And according to BBC News Russian, at least 32 of these people have left or are preparing to leave the country. Another 14 individuals had already left Russia due to pressure from the authorities before they were added to the "foreign agent" blacklist. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/02/08/bbc-news-russian-nearly-half-of-people-labeled-media-foreign-agents-have-left-or-are-preparing-to-leave-russia
Since the fall of 2021, media outlets around the world have been discussing the possibility of another Russian invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has had troops massed near the Ukrainian border for several months now -- in response, NATO countries, led by the United States, have deployed additional forces to Eastern Europe and are threatening the Kremlin with sanctions. What do people living near the Russian border with Ukraine think about these escalating tensions? For Meduza, journalist Gleb Golod traveled to towns and villages in Russia's Rostov region to find out. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/01/we-have-other-problems
Vladimir Lagrange, who died in Moscow on January 22 at the age of 82, was an icon of national photography with work published in both the Soviet and foreign press. From 1959 to 1963, he worked in the news photography division of TASS. Until 1989, he was a special photo correspondent for the magazine Sovetsky Soyuz. He also worked for the magazine Rodina and in the Moscow bureau of the French agency Sipa Press. Following a memorial service on January 25, Meduza is publishing some of Lagrange's classic images, with comments by Natalia Grigorieva-Litvinskaya, the director of the Lumiere Gallery, which hosted an exhibit in 2019 titled "Lagrange Street." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/02/the-thaw-in-black-and-white
On Wednesday, February 2, the Chechen authorities reported that 400,000 people had joined a rally in Grozny to protest the family of prominent anti-torture activist Abubakar Yangulbayev. The demonstration came a day after Russian lawmaker Adam Delimkhanov threatened to decapitate members of the Yangulbayev family. The activist's father, retired judge Saidi Yangulbayev, fled Russia along with his daughter on January 23 -- three days after his wife, Zarema Musayeva, was forcibly taken to Chechnya. The threats against the Yangulbayev family echo menacing remarks made by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has also been leveling accusations against Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina (who is known for her investigative work in Chechnya) and human rights activist Igor Kalyapin (who, like Abubakar Yangulbayev, works for the Committee for the Prevention of Torture). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/03/we-will-pursue-you-until-we-cut-off-your-heads
Against the backdrop of a Russian military buildup and a deepening rift between Russia and Western countries, Ukrainians have begun to make serious preparations for an intensified war. For many, this means joining the Territorial Defense Forces -- the country's volunteer military reserve that was recently incorporated into the armed forces. In Kyiv, instructors with military experience give basic combat training to civilians wielding wooden replicas of Kalashnikov rifles. In Kharkiv, Ukrainian nationalists rehearse maneuvers at abandoned construction sites. Patriotic Ukrainian media outlets hold up these volunteers as heroes -- meanwhile, they're painted as anti-heroes in Russian state propaganda. For the rest of the world, this civilian mobilization speaks to the fact that a full-fledged war between Russia and Ukraine is a very real prospect. Here's what this combat training looks like. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/03/citizen-resistance
Ramzan Kadyrov, the head of the Chechen government, has called Novaya Gazeta journalist Elena Milashina and Committee Against Torture director Igor Kalyapin "terrorists." Kadyrov has also accused entire newsrooms, not just at Novaya Gazeta but also at the independent television network Dozhd, of being "terrorists and their accomplices." These remarks aren't just insulting (though they are certainly that); they're also threats of violence. "We've always destroyed terrorists and their accomplices, between whom there's no distinction, and we will continue to deal with them like this," said Kadyrov. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/03/the-russian-state-must-protect-journalists-from-ramzan-kadyrov
Ten years have passed since Russia's winter protests of 2012. They began as demonstrations opposing voter fraud in the 2011 State Duma elections, and segued into rallies against the now-infamous "castling" that returned Vladimir Putin to the presidency. Indeed, large-scale opposition protests formed the backdrop of Putin's 2012 presidential campaign. Looking back, it seems as though this was the last time that both the Russian authorities and their opponents were equally and seriously engaged in politics on the streets of Moscow. On the tenth anniversary of the protests, Meduza looks back at how this political struggle played out. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/05/remembering-the-winter-of-protests
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has been sidestepping questions about the Chechen authorities' threats against the Yangulbayev family all week. On Friday, February 4, journalists -- referring to a "blood feud" threat made by Russian lawmaker Adam Delimkhanov -- asked Peskov about the issue of blood feuds in Chechnya. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/04/the-sidestepping-spokesman
Exactly five years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law that decriminalized some forms of domestic violence. Since then, victims have been unable to press criminal charges for domestic battery unless it's at least the abuser's second offense -- first time offenders only face administrative fines, ranging from 5,000 to 30,000 rubles ($66 to $400). To find out what impact this legislation has had on Russia's domestic violence problem, Meduza spoke to Diana Barsegyan -- the deputy director of the aid group Nasiliu.net (No to Violence). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/08/not-talked-about-on-tv
Aishat Khiramagomedova fled her family home in Dagestan in October 2021, after reaching out to Krepost (Fortress), a charity organization that assists victims of domestic abuse. She made it to Moscow, where Krepost provided her with shelter and access to a psychologist. Within a few months she was starting to find her feet -- she had a job and was looking for an apartment with her boyfriend. But on February 4, Aishat's family tried to kidnap her and bring her back to Dagestan. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/08/my-task-is-to-kill-you
Despite a recent report that Russia's Health Ministry has stopped placing orders of the EpiVacCorona vaccine, its manufacturer is optimistic and claims to expect the next production order to come in February. Meanwhile, scientists, as well as journalists at Meduza, have obtained convincing evidence that EpiVacCorona is ineffective and gives recipients a completely false sense of security (unlike Sputnik V, which has been proven to protect recipients from COVID-19's most severe effects). Meduza explains the two studies that led to that conclusion. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/02/09/worse-than-ineffective
Ukraine's National Police have arrested two suspects on charges of attempting to orchestrate violent unrest in Kyiv and other parts of the country, the Interior Ministry announced during a press conference on Monday, January 31. According to police officials, the detained suspects were planning a series of demonstrations and recruiting paid participants to clash with police officers. Allegedly, the first rally was supposed to take place in the capital on Monday and involve as many as 5,000 people. Ukraine's Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky noted that other demonstrations were planned in regions not far from the border with Russia. Ukrainian police did not disclose the suspects' identities and are still investigating whether or not they have ties to Russia or the Kremlin-backed breakaway states in eastern Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/31/blood-was-supposed-to-be-shed
A month and a half after Moscow presented the United States and NATO with demands for sweeping security guarantees, tensions between Russia and Western countries remain high. Diplomatic negotiations have made little progress and with upwards of 100,000 Russian troops still concentrated near Ukraine's borders, Washington has repeatedly warned that a full-fledged invasion is imminent. Meanwhile, Russian state television has been offering its own analysis of the crisis, putting the focus squarely on the United States. To give a general sense of what's being said on state-controlled channels, Meduza summarizes two segments that aired during primetime on Sunday, January 30. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/31/as-seen-on-state-tv
When Vladimir Putin came to power in Russia, the mandatory retirement age for government officials was 65 years old. During Dmitry Medvedev's presidency in 2010, this age limit was lowered to 60. But just three years later, after Putin had returned to the presidency, it was raised to 70 years old. Since then, the Russian president has been gradually extending or abolishing the mandatory retirement age for senior civil servants, as Putin's entourage continues to age along with him. In a new investigation, iStories journalists calculated the average age of Russia's ruling elite. Here's what they found. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/31/the-old-guard
The tensions over Ukraine are becoming more and more alarming by the day. Russian troops have long been stationed near the Ukrainian border, NATO countries are sending additional forces to Eastern Europe, and politicians are swapping mutual accusations of escalating the conflict. It seems that no one really knows what's happening -- or, most importantly, what will happen in the near future. To try and gain some clarity, Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev spoke to his sources close to the Kremlin. They claim that Russia is prepared to "use force" -- but the main priority is "not to give in" to the United States. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/29/geopolitical-status-is-more-important
The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv is located just 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the border with Russia. In 2014, it was among the main centers of a bitter standoff between supporters and opponents of the Maidan Revolution. Eight years later -- against the backdrop of a Russian troop buildup that has provoked international fears of a military escalation -- Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speculated that Moscow may try to "occupy" Kharkiv. In a dispatch from the city, local journalist Olga Antonova reports on how Kharkiv's inhabitants are responding to the prospect of an all-out war with Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/28/no-one-is-going-to-hand-over-ukraine
There is no article on torture in the Russian Criminal Code. However, torture itself, unfortunately, remains a widespread practice: reports of brutal violence in prisons and police stations appear with frightening regularity. We believe that the use of torture is absolutely unacceptable, and we strive to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of this issue. The following text explains why the Russian Criminal Code needs to be changed -- and how introducing a separate article on torture could influence the situation in the country. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/27/a-gaping-hole-in-the-criminal-code
Russia's ruling party has initiated an appeal asking the country's leadership to start supplying military assistance to the self-proclaimed "people's republics" in eastern Ukraine, Interfax reported on Wednesday, January 26. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/26/united-russia-asks-putin-to-start-supplying-military-aid-to-donetsk-and-luhansk-people-s-republics
Police in Russia have added Oleg Navalny, the brother of jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny, to a federal wanted list, the nation's Interior Ministry reported on Tuesday. The announcement does not list the charges. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/26/navalny-s-brother-is-added-to-federal-wanted-list-in-russia
In early January, the American authorities withdrew a request to extradite Berlin-based Russian DJ Denis Kaznacheev. The U.S. had charged him with laundering hundreds of millions of dollars. As a result, a Berlin court placed Kaznacheev in pre-trial detention before releasing him on bail, while making it clear that Germany would not challenge his extradition stateside. In recent months, new details of the case have emerged: Kaznacheev was accused of running WebKazna -- a money laundering service on the dark web, -- supposedly naming the illegal business after himself. People close to the DJ think he was framed by a family friend. Meduza looks into how the story unfolded. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/25/he-was-clueless
Imprisoned opposition leader Alexey Navalny and a number of his close associates have been added to Russia's list of "terrorists and extremists." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/25/russia-puts-alexey-navalny-and-key-associates-on-terrorist-and-extremist-list
"The Russian Government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine," the UK Foreign Office said in a statement released on Saturday, January 22. The British authorities pointed to former Ukrainian lawmaker Yevhen Murayev as a "potential candidate," while also claiming to "have information that the Russian intelligence services maintain links with numerous former Ukrainian politicians." Commenting on this information, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab warned that there would be serious consequences should Russia try and invade Ukraine and install a puppet government. However, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken declined to comment on the British intelligence report. In turn, Yevhen Murayev himself vehemently dismissed the allegations as "nonsense and stupidity." Meduza examines what is known about Murayev and the other former Ukrainian politicians the UK Foreign Office named. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/25/who-is-yevhen-murayev
The United States, UK, and Australia have started to withdraw the family members of embassy staff in Ukraine, as tensions between Russia and NATO countries continue to rise. On Monday, January 24, NATO confirmed that member countries had sent additional ships and jets to enhance deployments in Eastern Europe. In turn, the Kremlin's spokesman accused the alliance of provoking "an escalation of tensions." Meanwhile, the ruble's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar dropped significantly, prompting Russia's Central Bank to halt foreign currency purchases. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/24/the-latest-vis-a-vis-ukraine
In the winter of 2021, Russia was rocked by large-scale protests demanding the release of opposition leader Alexey Navalny. After spending months abroad recovering from chemical nerve-agent poisoning, Navalny had returned to Russia only to be thrown in jail. During the ensuing pro-Navalny rallies, thousands of people were detained. Police in Moscow made so many arrests that the capital's detention centers were overflowing. As a result, many detainees were sent to a migrant detention center in Sakharovo, a village just outside of Moscow. The detainees shared striking accounts of how they were held on freezing buses outside the detention center for hours on end, only to be placed in overcrowded cells without bedding and basic hygiene products. Photographs taken inside the detention center drove these experiences home. At the same time, the detainees themselves recall the special atmosphere inside those same cells. One year later, Meduza reached out to those jailed in Sakharovo and asked for photographs of what went on there. Here are their snapshots. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/24/snapshots-from-sakharovo
Alexey Navalny's investigative team operating abroad has released a new report devoted to "Vladimir Putin's palace" -- a seaside mansion that's been under construction for years in Gelendzhik and linked to the Kremlin and the president's close friends. Exactly a year and a day ago, Team Navalny published an investigative report about the residence that has attracted more than 121 million views. In these new revelations, the jailed opposition leader's researchers say they've obtained real photographs of the palace's interior. The images apparently corroborate the accuracy of last year's 3D mockups that were created using leaked blueprints and furniture catalogs (including a design for a hookah lounge that contains a "dance pole"). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/20/real-photos-of-putin-s-palace
The "Allied Resolve" joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus are underway. The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Wednesday, January 19, that Russian forces have begun to arrive in Belarus for the first phase of the maneuvers, which will last until February 9. The second phase will run from February 10-20. According to open-source reports, Russian troops and hardware have already been spotted within 40 kilometers (25 miles) of the Belarusian border with Ukraine. Taking place against the backdrop of a flurry of diplomatic talks, the military exercises have further stoked international fears that Moscow is planning to launch an attack on Ukraine. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov insisted on Wednesday that the drills are not cause for concern. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/19/allied-resolve-begins
Russian lawmakers from the Communist Party (KPRF) have submitted to the State Duma for consideration a draft resolution that proposes sending a formal appeal to President Vladimir Putin "on the need to recognize the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/19/communist-party-submits-draft-resolution-to-state-duma-on-raising-issue-of-russia-recognizing-donetsk-and-luhansk-people-s-republics
Anna Tsivilyova, the wife of the governor of Russia's Kemerovo region, happens to be the daughter of Russian President Vladimir Putin's cousin, according to a new report from the investigative outlet Agentstvo. What's more, according to the journalists' findings, she and her husband acquired a major stake in one of Russia's biggest coal companies thanks to the generosity of one of Putin's oldest friends -- billionaire Gennady Timchenko. Though the coal company, Kolmar, had financial troubles in the past, it has since been propped up by the Russian government. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/19/first-lady-of-kuzbass
After last week's talks between Russia, the United States, and NATO led to no apparent breakthroughs on European security, speculation has resumed in the West that Moscow is preparing an expanded invasion of Ukraine that could begin at any time. The Kremlin denies any plans to attack Ukraine, but policymakers in Kyiv and Washington say the Russian military's buildup near Ukraine's borders suggests otherwise. Some experts in the West, including several former senior U.S. military personnel, now argue that the Ukrainian Army might be able to withstand a Russian onslaught, if it receives all feasible support from NATO. Hoping that is purely a thought experiment, Meduza reviews some of the theories about how a larger war between Russia and Ukraine could unfold. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/19/2014-vs-2022
The prisoners' rights group Gulagu.net (No to the Gulag) has released a new video evidencing the abuse of inmates in prisons in Russia's Omsk region. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/18/human-rights-group-gulagu-net-releases-video-evidencing-abuse-in-omsk-prisons
A Moscow court has fined Novaya Gazeta and its editor-in-chief, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, for failing to appropriately label a "prohibited organization" in the newspaper's reporting. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/18/moscow-court-fines-nobel-laureate-dmitry-muratov-and-novaya-gazeta-over-missing-prohibited-organization-disclaimer
The Russian State Duma Council unanimously agreed to withdraw from consideration a controversial bill that would require QR-code vaccine passes for accessing many public spaces, parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin announced on Monday, January 17. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/17/canceling-qr-codes
On the morning of Monday, January 17, Ukraine's former president, lawmaker Petro Poroshenko, arrived in Kyiv after spending nearly a month abroad. An estimated 3,000-4,000 people met him at Kyiv's Zhuliany Airport; some of his supporters carried Ukrainian flags and posters with pro-Poroshenko slogans. At passport control, Poroshenko was met by officials from Ukraine's State Investigation Bureau. His passport was taken away for around 15 minutes, but then returned to him. The state investigators attempted to serve Poroshenko with a subpoena but he refused to take the document. Poroshenko then proceeded to hold an impromptu rally, addressing his supporters gathered outside the airport and urging them to support him in court. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/17/from-the-airport-to-the-courtroom
On February 2, a Moscow court incarcerated Alexey Navalny, making him not only Russia's most outspoken opposition politician and most serious opponent to Vladimir Putin but also the country's most famous political prisoner. Drawing heavily on work by Evgeny Feldman, Meduza studied photo archives to recall how Navalny went from a young Moscow activist and blogger in the mid-2000s to the international figure he is today. His journey, which features arrests, political campaigns, criminal cases, assaults, and a near-fatal poisoning, hasn't been easy. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/02/05/how-navalny-became-navalny
On January 17, 2021, Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport immediately upon returning to Russia from Germany, where he had spent months recovering from a near-fatal poisoning. Navalny would go on to spend the next year behind bars, first in Moscow's Matrosskaya Tishina remand prison and then in a prison colony in the Vladimir region, where he is still in custody today. The Kremlin critic was incarcerated under a reinstated sentence after Russia's Penitentiary Service accused him of parole violations. Navalny was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, but given the number of ongoing criminal cases against him, the opposition leader says he's not counting the days until his release. To mark the anniversary of Alexey Navalny's arrest, his supporters rallied in dozens of cities around the world to call for his freedom. Here's what the rallies looked like from Moscow to Miami. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/17/freenavalny
Russia's week of security talks with the U.S., NATO, and the OSCE wrapped up on Thursday, January 13. The meetings took place amid ongoing international concern over Russia concentrating troops near its border with Ukraine. However, the talks didn't result in any agreements, as each party refused to budge key issues. Russia has demanded an array of security guarantees, including that NATO rule out membership for Ukraine and Georgia. But both the alliance and Washington insist that Moscow has no say in the matter. For Meduza, political scientist Igor Zevelev breaks down why this week's talks failed to produce results and where there may be room for negotiations. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/15/completely-different-approaches
Precious little is known about the immediate family of Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. But according to a recent investigation from RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time TV, Tokayev's ex-wife and son are both closely connected to Russia. Indeed, according to media reports, Tokayev's ex-wife is a Russian citizen. And both she and her son have been linked to pricey real estate in and around Moscow. More recently, their ownership of two apartments in the Russian capital appears to have been covered up in Russia's federal property database. Meduza summarizes the investigation's findings here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/14/meet-the-tokayevs
Leonid Volkov and Ivan Zhdanov, two close associates of imprisoned opposition leader Alexey Navalny, have been added to Russia's list of "terrorists and extremists." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/14/russia-puts-navalny-associates-leonid-volkov-and-ivan-zhdanov-on-terrorist-and-extremist-list
The withdrawal from Kazakhstan Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) peacekeeping forces, which began on Thursday, January 13, will end by next Wednesday, January 19, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/13/csto-troops-to-complete-withdrawal-from-kazakhstan-by-january-19-russian-defense-minister-says
Russian and NATO officials convened for talks at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, January 12. The meeting came two days after diplomats from Russia and the U.S. held similar talks in Geneva. Both discussions were largely inconclusive. Washington and NATO are attempting to push back against sweeping security proposals put forward by Russia in December, while also trying to deter Moscow from launching a full-fledged attack on Ukraine. Speaking to the press after Wednesday's talks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the two sides remain divided on fundamental issues. Meduza summarizes their comments here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/12/not-an-easy-discussion
In November 2021, the feminist protest group Pussy Riot turned 10 years old. For the entirety of the group's existence, the Russian authorities (among others) have been trying their damnedest to shut them up. After staging a "punk prayer" in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral in 2012, three Pussy Riot activists were sentenced to two years in prison. After a demonstration at the 2018 World Cup, other Pussy Riot members, who ran onto the field in police uniforms, were arrested -- and the group's unofficial spokesman Pyotr Verzilov was promptly poisoned. In the last two years, arrests and prosecutions targeting Pussy Riot activists have only become more frequent. Just last month, members Maria Alyokhina and Lyusya Shtein went on hunger strike while serving two-week stints in jail. Meduza special correspondent Kristina Safonova spoke with past and present members of the group to find out who exactly they were in 2011 -- and who they are now. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/12/putin-s-trigger
According to government officials, Russia's coronavirus epidemic has reached a tipping point. On Tuesday, January 11, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, Rospotrebnadzor head Anna Popova, and Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko all raised concerns about the rapid spread of the Omicron strain during a meeting of the Presidium of the Government Coordination Council on countering COVID-19. Among other things, they warned that the daily number of new coronavirus cases in Russia could soon hit six figures. Meduza summarizes their remarks here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/11/headed-for-six-figures
The head of Moscow's Lefortovo remand prison, Alexey Romashin, has stepped down, informed sources told RTVI, RIA Novosti, and Novaya Gazeta on Tuesday, January 11. Eva Merkacheva and Alexey Melnikov of Moscow's Public Monitoring Commission (a prisoners' rights watchdog) also confirmed the prison chief's resignation to TASS and Interfax. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/11/head-of-moscow-s-notorious-lefortovo-remand-prison-resigns
On Monday, January 11, diplomats from Russia and the United States held a series of security talks in Geneva. Taking place against the backdrop of Russia massing troops along its border with Ukraine, the discussion centered around a set of draft security proposals that Moscow presented to the United States and NATO in December. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman underscored that no concrete decisions have been made as of yet. Here are their comments to the press, in a nutshell. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/10/reinforced-concrete-guarantees
The year 2020 saw the death of public politics in Russia. To accommodate a plebiscite on amending the constitution, the authorities introduced a three-day voting period (leaving ballots unsupervised at polling stations overnight), as well as "mobile polling stations" (giving rise to the infamous "stump" voting). The official result was 67 percent turnout, with 78 percent of voters supporting the constitutional changes. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/10/a-grim-year
On January 6, Russian paratroopers from the Collective Rapid Reaction Force (KSOR) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) began arriving in Kazakhstan. This marked the start of the first military operation by the combined forces of the six former Soviet states that make up the military alliance, which has existed now for nearly 20 years. The legality of today's operation in Kazakhstan is questionable, insofar as the use of collective force in the absence of external aggression against a CSTO member state is not codified in the organization's charter (though neither is it strictly prohibited). In the past, CSTO members have been reluctant to treat domestic turmoil as a collective security threat. In fact, CSTO states have refused multiple times to deploy combined rapid reaction forces due to the lack of external aggression in a member country experiencing a crisis. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/07/technically-legal
Police and soldiers have "essentially" restored order across Kazakhstan, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev declared on Friday. "The local authorities control the situation, but terrorists are still using weapons and damaging people's property. That is why counterterrorist actions will continue until the complete destruction of the militants," Tokayev said at a meeting on January 7 with the nation's law enforcement heads. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/07/day-six-of-kazakhstan-s-unrest
With Kazakhstan under a state of emergency due to mass protests, the Collective Security Treaty Organization deployed troops to the country on January 6 to help quell the unrest. Earlier, Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev issued several emergency orders to his cabinet, calling for the formation of a special group to carry out investigations and prosecutions regarding the demonstrations and rioting. Meanwhile, lines formed outside grocery stores, ATMs, and gas stations as people scrambled to buy food and fuel and withdraw cash. Banks have shut down across the country and Internet access remains intermittent. Tasked with dispersing the remaining demonstrators, the Kazakhstani Interior Ministry has vowed to "destroy" anyone who refuses to "lay down arms." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/06/kazakhstan-s-revolt-continues
Developments in Kazakhstan have evolved rapidly since demonstrations began on January 2. Under pressure from nationwide protests, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed the cabinet and removed Nursultan Nazarbayev from his lifetime post as chairman of the National Security Council on January 5. By that evening, it appeared as though protesters had taken complete control of Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty. But the military soon returned to the city and launched an "anti-terrorist operation." According to official reports, by the morning of January 6, dozens of protesters had died and police had arrested around 2,000 people. In a dispatch for Meduza, local journalist Aysulu Toyshibekova offers an eyewitness account from the streets of Almaty. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/06/this-is-a-turning-point
Protests in western Kazakhstan against suddenly doubled fuel costs began on January 2 and quickly spiraled into wider, nationwide unrest, including violent clashes with the authorities. Dozens have reportedly been killed in clashes, and police officials say several officers have died, as well. In cities like Zhanaozen, demonstrators' demands have become more and more political. Following these developments, the nation's authorities have also changed the way they talk about the unrest, using increasingly extreme rhetoric. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/06/from-demonstrators-to-terrorists
Russian officials view this week's protests in Kazakhstan as an "externally incited" attempt to undermine the security and integrity of the state, diplomats in Moscow announced in a statement published on the Foreign Ministry's website on Thursday. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/06/moscow-calls-unrest-in-kazakhstan-an-externally-incited-insurrection-by-trained-and-organized-armed-formations
The Collective Security Treaty Organization has deployed troops to Kazakhstan, the organization confirmed officially to the news agency Interfax. The contingent of peacekeepers includes units from Russia, Belarus, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. The decision to send soldiers was reached based on "the threat to the Republic of Kazakhstan's national security and sovereignty caused, among other things, by outside interference," Armenian Prime Minister and acting CSTO Collective Security Council Chairman Nikol Pashinyan explained in an announcement on Wednesday. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/06/overnight-developments-in-kazakhstan-s-uprising
Demonstrations began in Kazakhstan on January 2 in response to suddenly doubled fuel prices. After three days of protests and increasingly violent clashes with police, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev fired his government cabinet, restored price controls, and declared a state of emergency in three different regions. But the protests have continued. Beginning early on January 5, demonstrators started trying to seize control of administration buildings in major cities. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2022/01/05/an-uprising-in-kazakhstan
Protests in Kazakhstan's biggest metropolis against rising fuel prices escalated to violence on Tuesday. Demonstrators in Almaty smashed and set fire to several police cars. Journalists at multiple news outlets reported the use of riot-control measures like stun grenades and tear gas against crowds at Republic Square, where as many as several thousand people gathered. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/05/protests-in-kazakhstan-against-doubled-fuel-prices-escalate-to-clashes-with-police
Boris Rotenberg, one of Russia's richest businessmen and a close friend of Vladimir Putin, can boast another achievement this week: his son Roman was just named the head coach of St. Petersburg's top ice hockey team, SKA. Roman Rotenberg has never served as a head coach before, and he's never played hockey at a professional level, but he's now at the helm of one of the Kontinental Hockey League's wealthiest teams, reports Radio Svoboda. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/04/top-russian-ice-hockey-team-names-son-of-putin-s-close-friend-as-new-head-coach
A U.S.-based Russian-language blogger says Google is threatening to delete one of his YouTube posts after Russia's federal censor flagged it as prohibited content and a Russian court added it to Russia's Internet blacklist. Court records from late November 2021 confirm that a judge in Vladivostok granted a request by Russia's media regulator Roskomnadzor to ban a video uploaded to YouTube on June 11, 2019, by a man named Felix Glyukman because the content supposedly violates Russia's law against "gay propaganda." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/04/google-reportedly-threatens-to-delete-video-from-u-s-based-blogger-after-russian-censor-flags-it-as-illegal-gay-propaganda
Vladimir Putin has dismissed a Federal Investigative Committee senior official who was responsible for several major cases over the past decade, including multiple probes into Russia's anti-Kremlin opposition. The presidential order releasing 40-year-old Major General Rustam Gabdulin is dated December 28, 2021, but it wasn't reported by the news media until a few days later. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/03/putin-removes-top-investigator-who-oversaw-major-cases-against-anti-kremlin-opposition
American officials secured Vladislav Klyushin's extradition from Switzerland last month on charges of insider trading, but journalists at Bloomberg say the Russian tech tycoon might also have access to documents relating to the Russian military's operations abroad, including Moscow's campaign to hack Democratic Party servers during the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the attempted chemical poisoning assassination of former spy Sergey Skripal and his daughter in the UK in 2018. According to the U.S. indictment, Klyushin's I.T. firm, M13, worked for the Russian presidency and federal government. Bloomberg's sources described Klyushin as "the highest-level Kremlin insider handed to U.S. law enforcement in recent memory." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2022/01/03/bloomberg-says-u-s-officials-were-just-handed-highest-level-kremlin-insider-in-recent-memory
On December 20, 2021, Russia's Health Ministry proposed a series of changes to adult cancer care practices. These new procedures will take effect in the new year. The previous plan to overhaul cancer treatment was received poorly by the medical community, prompting Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova to order revisions. However, experts say that none of the Health Ministry's proposed changes address physician's most substantive criticisms. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/30/unwelcome-changes
In mid-December, Siberian Business Union (SDS) head Mikhail Fedyayev, one of the richest people in Russia, was arrested. After the Listvyazhnaya mine disaster in November resulted in 51 deaths, Fedyaev was charged with abusing his authority and violating safety standards. Before his arrest, however, Fedyaev enjoyed near-limitless power in the Kemerovo region: the government is full of his former employees, his holding company received state contracts worth millions of dollars, and presidents and federal ministers routinely paid visits to the SDS headquarters. Now, the prospect of Fedyayev's property going to a new owner has Kemerovo residents worried, although many are pleased that the region's "shadow governor" has finally been arrested. Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev tells the story of one of Russia's last regional businessmen whose influence went all the way to the top. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/31/a-mix-of-schadenfreude-and-fear
The Circle of Kindness Foundation, which helps children with rare illnesses, was created in early 2021 at Vladimir Putin's own initiative. It's funded by a two percent tax on the income of Russia's wealthiest citizens. The organization pays for expensive medications -- but competition is rare at the auctions where these drugs are procured. One of the foundation's main suppliers is a company called Irvin -- and it's connected to both the foundation's head and to the family of Alexey Dyumin, Putin's former bodyguard. In addition, the husband of the woman responsible for purchasing medications on behalf of the Circle of Kindness works for the owner of the company that supplies the foundation with Zolgensma -- the most expensive drug in the world. Meduza correspondents Svetlana Reiter and Maria Zholobova break down how the Circle of Kindness Foundation's procurement system works and why its board of trustees (which includes well-known actors and philanthropists) believes it lacks transparency. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/30/a-very-close-knit-circle
In the final weeks of 2021, at least six Chechen oppositionists reported that their relatives had gone missing. All of these opposition figures live outside of Chechnya and have condemned regional head Ramzan Kadyrov and his cronies for human rights abuses. Several of them have faced threats in the past or even survived assassination attempts. Though their family members living in Chechnya have come under pressure before, they are now being abducted en masse -- and not only in Chechnya, but also in other parts of Russia. Though some have been released, many remain missing at the time of this writing. For Meduza, journalist Vladimir Sevrinovsky spoke with three Chechen dissidents whose relatives were targeted in the latest wave of repression. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/30/nobody-canceled-blood-feuds
Yuri Khovansky, the video blogger charged with the felony offense of "justifying terrorism" because of a song he performed years ago, has been released from pretrial detention after roughly six months behind bars. State investigators in St. Petersburg made the request without any explanation, initially asking the court to wait until January 8 to free him. They later endorsed his immediate release. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/29/pending-trial-st-petersburg-court-releases-video-blogger-charged-with-felony-offense-for-performing-song
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has issued an interim measure telling Russia to suspend the dissolution of the International Memorial Society and the Memorial Human Rights Center, Interfax reported on Wednesday, December 29. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/29/echr-tells-russian-to-suspend-dissolution-of-memorial-pending-review-of-claim-over-foreign-agent-laws
On Monday, December 27, the Belarusian authorities unveiled a new draft of the country's constitution. According to head of state Alexander Lukashenko, the document may see changes following public debate and will be put to a referendum by late February 2022. This will mark the third referendum on amending Belarus's constitution since Lukashenko came to power in 1994. Changes made to the constitution in 1996 and 2004 broadened the powers of the president -- and the draft amendments have the potential to not only keep Lukashenko in power, but also permanently shield him from prosecution. Here's what you need to know. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/29/to-2035-and-beyond
Even when judged against the other miseries of 2021, the dissolution of Memorial's historical research society and human rights center is an extraordinary, monstrous event. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/29/fools-have-no-future-in-russia
A day after Russia's Supreme Court dissolved the Memorial International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society, the Moscow City Court similarly ordered the closure of the Memorial's Human Rights Center, granting a petition by city prosecutors who argued that the organization's financial activities are "non-transparent." The authorities also accused Memorial of demonstrating a "steady disregard of Russia's Constitution and laws." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/29/moscow-city-court-dissolves-memorial-human-rights-center
Russian police reportedly detained as many as five former activists from Alexey Navalny's disbanded political network on Tuesday, December 28. According to various reports, arrests were carried out in the cities of Tomsk, Irkutsk, Arkhangelsk, Barnaul, and Saratov (though not all of the detentions have been confirmed). Following interrogations, investigators brought criminal charges against two of the detained activists -- former regional coordinators Ksenia Fadeeva and Zakhar Sarapulov -- for involvement in an extremist group and participation in a nonprofit organization that infringes on the rights of citizens. Both Fadeeva and Sarapulov were arraigned on Tuesday and placed under restrictions pending trial. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/28/retroactive-repression
In a ruling on Tuesday, December 28, Russia's Supreme Court shut down the country's oldest and most authoritative human rights organization -- the "Memorial" International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society. The ruling granted a petition filed by the Attorney General's Office, which maintains that International Memorial repeatedly violated Russia's "foreign agent" legislation (without presenting convincing evidence to support this claim). Moscow prosecutors filed a similar lawsuit against Memorial's human rights branch -- the next hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, December 29. To find out what today's ruling means for the future of International Memorial, Meduza spoke to the chairman of the organization's board, Yan Rachinsky. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/28/we-never-counted-on-love-from-the-state
In a ruling on Tuesday, Russia's Supreme Court dissolved the "Memorial" International Historical Educational Charitable and Human Rights Society, granting a petition by the Attorney General's Office, which argues that the organization repeatedly violated Russia's laws on "foreign agents" by failing to disclose its "agent" status in content shared on social media. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/28/russia-s-supreme-court-dissolves-memorial-s-historical-research-branch
Last week, at a press conference with 500 journalists, Vladimir Putin reiterated his suspicions about American intentions toward Russia, recalling that one of President Woodrow Wilson's advisers once endorsed the partition of Russia, writing more than a century ago: "It would be better for the whole world if a state in Siberia and another four states emerged in the European part of what is now greater Russia." The quotation is real -- it belongs to Edward House, Wilson's informal chief adviser on European politics and diplomacy during World War I. To find out more about America's proposal to carve up the Russian Empire (and to get some much-needed historical context), Meduza turned to historian Alexander Etkind, who recently authored a book about William Bullitt, the U.S. diplomat sent to negotiate with Lenin on behalf of the Paris Peace Conference. It was Bullitt who devised the plan in 1918 to partition Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/28/better-off-without-russia
Around 500 journalists were invited to attend Vladimir Putin's 2021 marathon press conference at the Moscow Manege on Thursday, December 23. But even those with invitations couldn't just waltz right inside. First, they had to pass through a disinfection booth installed at the entrance, which sprayed attendees with silver particles. Then, they had to don special protective masks treated with an "antibacterial solution of nanosilver." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/24/it-s-even-good-for-your-health
State prosecutors in Belarus have asked a Minsk court to sentence 21-year-old Russian national Yegor Dudnikov to 11 years in prison, reports BBC News Russian. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/23/belarusian-prosecutors-seek-11-year-prison-sentence-for-russian-national-yegor-dudnikov
Moscow's Tagansky District Court has fined GitHub 1 million rubles ($13,630) for failing to delete the list of "Smart Vote" endorsements uploaded by Alexey Navalny's team ahead of the Russian State Duma elections in September. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/23/russia-fines-github-for-failing-to-delete-navalny-s-smart-vote-endorsements
Vladimir Putin held his yearly marathon press conference for the seventeenth time on Thursday, December 23. Around 500 journalists were invited to attend; the Russian president fielded 55 questions in just under four hours, taking few questions from the foreign press and no questions from the "foreign agent" media outlets present (Meduza included). Putin commented on a number of pressing issues, including tensions with the U.S. and NATO over Ukraine, this past year's crackdown on dissent, systemic abuse in the Russian prison system, and, in the holiday spirit, his feelings about Santa Claus. Meduza sums up the key takeaways here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/23/let-s-turn-this-page
Ukraine was the main topic of discussion during a video call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden in early December. According to American intelligence, Russia is preparing for a full-scale invasion of the Eastern European country. And by all appearances the virtual talks changed little: despite the threat of new sanctions. Moscow, according to the Pentagon, is continuing to mass troops near the border with Ukraine (open source analysts note that an "alarming quantity" of equipment is being brought in, as well). Nevertheless, many experts still believe that an all-out war is unlikely. Against the backdrop of these tensions, Meduza's sources say that recruiters have started mobilizing mercenaries for a "combat trip to the Donbas." Whether or not they'll actually fight on the frontline remains unknown. Meduza special correspondent Liliya Yapparova spoke with the mercenaries themselves and discovered that they, too, are skeptical. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/23/a-road-to-nowhere
In December 2019, "Moscow Case" defendant Egor Lesnykh proposed to his girlfriend Dasha during his final courtroom remarks. The next day, he was sentenced to three years in prison. Egor was charged with assaulting a police officer at a rally after he tried to protect other protesters from being beaten by members of the National Guard. Today, he's serving his sentence in an open prison near Volgograd; he's due to be released in June 2022. Approximately once every two months, Dasha is able to visit Egor in prison. Over the course of several weeks, Meduza photographer Evgeny Feldman snapped photos of Dasha before and after one such visit. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/21/i-hate-that-i-m-broken
Awaiting trial in Belarus and facing a minimum of six years in prison, Russian national Sofia Sapega has already asked Alexander Lukashenko to grant her a pardon, her stepfather Sergey Dudich told the radio station Ekho Moskvy on Tuesday, December 21. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/21/facing-six-years-in-prison-in-belarus-russian-national-sofia-sapega-appeals-to-lukashenko-for-clemency
A Russian court has rejected a petition from the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) to transfer student journalists Alla Gutnikova and Vladimir Metelkin to a remand prison. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/21/russian-court-rejects-prison-officials-petition-to-jail-doxa-editors-who-missed-curfew-because-of-their-own-wedding
The Prigorodny District is a disputed territory on the border between the Russian republics of North Ossetia and Ingushetia. Violence broke out there 30 years ago -- and to this day, Ingush and Ossetian neighbors in Prigorodny avoid speaking to one another and send their children to separate schools. In a dispatch from Prigorodny, Meduza special correspondent Sasha Sivtsova examines why the conflict, which was triggered by state repressions, is still going on after so many years. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/20/a-separate-peace
The Russian Foreign Ministry has declared two German diplomats persona non grata in a "symmetrical response" to Berlin's expulsion of two Russian diplomats last week, according to a ministry statement released on Monday, December 20. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/20/russia-expels-two-german-diplomats-decries-allegations-of-state-involvement-in-khangoshvili-murder
Activists from Gulagu.net (No to the Gulag) have obtained and released new footage further evidencing the torture and abuse of inmates in Russian prisons. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/20/human-rights-project-gulagu-net-releases-more-footage-of-torture-in-russian-prisons
Exiled human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov has launched a new legal group that specializes in defending those accused of treason and espionage in Russia. Pavlov, who fled abroad to escape criminal charges in September, previously led Team 29 -- a similar human rights initiative that tackled some of Russia's most challenging political prosecutions. The group disbanded in July 2021, to protect its members and supporters from persecution. Pavlov's new project, dubbed "Pervy Otdel" (which translates as "First Department" or "Department One") also aims to take on cases that are handled "behind closed doors" and will function in cooperation with colleagues working "on the ground" in Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/20/introducing-department-one
Russian rapper Noize MC dropped the second part of his new album "Exit to the City" ("Vykhod v gorod") on December 17, adding another ten tracks to the first ten released last month. Exit to the City is the 36-year-old musician's tenth album -- and it's his most serious and tragic record to date. Since the very beginning of his career, Noize MC (whose real name is Ivan Alexeyev) has been actively involved in public life, showing support for political prisoners and speaking out on current affairs -- and paying for it in concert cancellations and threats of criminal prosecution. In a review for Meduza, the rapper's contemporary and long-time acquaintance, journalist Alexander Gorbachev, interprets Exit to the City as an honest look at the fate of the generation that grew up in Russia in the 1990s -- and an attempt to find some value in this experience. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/18/all-grown-up-and-no-place-to-go
Russia's censorship agency is threatening to restrict access to YouTube after the video platform shut down yet another German-language channel run by the Russian state-controlled television network RT (Russia Today). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/17/russia-s-censor-threatens-to-block-youtube-for-taking-down-another-german-rt-channel
Moscow's Tverskoy District Court has jailed Pussy Riot activists Maria Alyokhina and Lyusya Shtein (a municipal deputy) for 15 days and 14 days, respectively, under the administrative article prohibiting the display of Nazi symbols. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/17/pussy-riot-activists-maria-alyokhina-and-lyusya-shtein-jailed-for-displaying-nazi-symbols-in-years-old-social-media-posts
On Friday, Russia's Foreign Ministry published two documents asking for legally binding security guarantees: a bilateral treaty with the United States and a multilateral agreement with NATO members. The proposal follows weeks of escalating tensions between Moscow and the West, precipitated by a large build-up of Russian troops near the Ukrainian border. Western analysts say the military maneuvers signal Moscow's intentions to expand Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while the Kremlin says it is merely responding to Kyiv's new deployments in the Donbas. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/17/moscow-s-terms
Political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya warns that reforms recently adopted by the State Duma to further the centralization of power in Russia's federal government could endanger the entire political system by pinning too much on the presidency and the Kremlin's "subjective and closed insider logic." "Constitutional Putinism" is supposed to weed out remnants of the destabilizing "opportunism" elevated in Russia's "Yeltsin Constitution," Stanovaya argues in a recent essay for the Carnegie Moscow Center, but Putinism could prove to be even more prone to opportunism if it is incapable of accommodating the multiple power centers that would emerge in a serious political crisis (for example, the loss of United Russia's parliamentary monopoly or a severe decline in the president's popularity). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/17/the-risks-of-constitutional-putinism
The first reading of a controversial draft bill on requiring QR-code vaccine passes for accessing public places in Russia led to a scuffle between Communist Party and United Russia lawmakers in the State Duma on Thursday, December 16. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/16/lawmakers-scuffle-as-russian-state-duma-approves-first-reading-of-controversial-vaccine-pass-legislation
One of the richest people in Russia, prominent businessman Mikhail Fedyaev was once predicted to take over as head of Siberia's Kemerovo region. But on Wednesday, December 15, he was jailed pending trial in connection with a methane blast that killed 51 people at the Listvyazhnaya coal mine in November. Investigators charged Fedyaev with abuse of authority entailing grave consequences, making him the ninth defendant in the criminal case initiated over the accident. Earlier, on December 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly chastised Fedyaev over the mine's safety. The businessman's arrest on Wednesday coincided with Investigative Committee Head Alexander Bastrykin paying a visit to the Listvyazhnaya mine and urging the investigation team to establish "the role of the mine's owners in the tragedy." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/16/defendant-number-nine
In a verdict handed down in November, a Russian court openly referred to the presence of Russian military personnel stationed in the "DNR and LNR" -- the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics" in eastern Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/16/it-s-probably-a-mistake
Anastasia Shevchenko was the first person in Russia to be charged with the criminal offense of taking part in the activities of an "undesirable" organization. At the time, she was a member of the federal board of the human rights group Open Russia. A criminal case was launched against her for organizing a political debate and publishing a post about a lecture. Shevchenko was placed under house arrest on January 23, 2019 and on February 18, 2021, she was sentenced to four years probation. While under house arrest, Shevchenko was initially denied permission to visit her eldest daughter Alina, who was in the hospital in critical condition. A judge eventually allowed Shevchenko to go to her daughter's side the night before she passed away. Earlier this year, Anastasia Shevchenko published a book titled "Undesirable" (edited by Olga Borisova). Meduza shares a translated excerpt from her memoir here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/16/my-child-was-there-all-alone-that-s-all-i-could-think-about
After convicting an alleged FSB officer of the murder of former Chechen field commander Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, Germany has expelled two diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/15/germany-expels-two-russian-diplomats-following-alleged-fsb-officer-s-murder-conviction
In January 2021, police officers in Perm detained a 16-year-old high school student and his "twin assistants." According to officials, they had been dealing illegal substances. The official police press release claimed the teenager had rented an apartment separate from his parents in a typical Russian high-rise building to "grow strawberries there," but ended up setting up a meth lab instead. The media has reported how the detainee was a great student, especially when it came to biology. According to his friends and teachers, he was interested in science; nobody had any idea there was anything untoward going on. Meduza special correspondent Irina Kravtsova traveled to Perm to find out what really happened. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/15/why-couldn-t-you-save-me
Russia Today's parent company is suing Feelosophy, a Moscow-based store that recently started selling merchandise branded with the phrase "foreign agent" (inostrannyi agent and inoagent) to raise support for Meduza. Available court records indicate that ANO TV-Novosti's lawsuit is against Georgy Saribekyan, Feelosophy's founder. RT's parent company seeks 500,000 rubles (about $6,775) in damages. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/15/russia-today-sues-merch-distributor-supporting-meduza-with-foreign-agent-clothing
On Monday, December 13, Vladimir Kiriyenko was appointed to serve as the new CEO of Vkontakte's parent company, VK. The son of Sergey Kiriyenko (President Putin's first deputy chief of staff and the Kremlin's unofficial domestic policy czar), Vladimir previously worked as a vice president at Rostelecom. His appointment followed a mayor sale of shares that transferred control over VK to Gazprombank and the insurance giant Sogaz. Meduza explores key details of the new CEO's life. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/15/meet-the-new-boss
A Belarusian court has handed an 18-year prison sentence to opposition blogger and politician Sergey Tikhanovsky -- the husband of exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. The closed-door trial took place at a remand prison in the city of Gomel on Tuesday, December 14. Five other opposition figures were tried alongside Tikhanovsky, all of whom were handed sentences of 14 years in prison or more. After the verdict, Tikhanovskaya condemned Belarusian head of state Alexander Lukashenko for "taking revenge on his strongest political opponents" and promised that her opposition movement would continue its work. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/15/we-won-t-stop
Draft legislation on introducing QR-code vaccine proof for accessing planes and trains in Russia will not go to the floor of the State Duma, parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin wrote on Telegram late in the evening on December 12. This abrupt announcement came just two days before lawmakers were expected to vote on the bill, which had already been sent to regional legislative assemblies for feedback. Despite public protests opposing the legislation, three quarters of Russia's regions approved the proposal. So why was the draft law shelved at the last minute? Here's what Meduza found out. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/14/qr-codes-not-worth-it
A district court in Moscow has fined the investigative news outlet The Insider for refusing to add "foreign agent" disclaimers to its materials, reports the official Telegram channel of the Moscow courts. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/14/moscow-court-fines-investigative-outlet-the-insider-for-noncompliance-with-foreign-agent-disclosure
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that Russia is to pay compensation to several domestic violence victims over the authorities' failure to respond to their cases. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/14/echr-orders-russia-to-pay-compensation-to-domestic-violence-victim-whose-husband-cut-off-her-hands
In mid-November, Russia's Ministry of Industry and Trade (Minpromtorg) published a draft decision that would give Russian drug manufacturers a leg up in public procurement. The proposal would ensure that drugs produced in the Eurasian Economic Union at all stages of manufacturing would be favored in public procurement auctions, automatically beating out international competition. To test drive this initiative, Minpromtorg has proposed a pilot project involving 15 drugs used to treat HIV, cancer, diabetes and tuberculosis. But NGOs warn that the proposed procurement rule could lead to shortages of vital medications. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/13/eaeu-first
Video blogger Yuri Khovansky has been locked up since June, awaiting trial on charges of "justifying terrorism." For months, he's claimed in letters released to the public through his lawyers that the police are trying to frame him for performing a banned song about the deadly 2002 Nord-Ost siege. The case against him, Khovansky says, relies on false testimony from a handful of witnesses who claim he played the song in 2018. He says he performed the piece (which he now renounces) only once, in November 2012, which should exonerate him under the statute of limitations. Journalists at the news outlet RBC obtained copies of the case evidence against Khovansky and found that significant portions of the prosecution's witness testimony repeat identical phrases and even whole paragraphs of text. Two of the three witnesses also appear to be former police officers. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/13/an-unforgettable-tune
The Council of the European Union has officially imposed sanctions on the Wagner Group, as well as a number of individuals and entities associated with the notorious Russian private military company (PMC). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/13/eu-sanctions-wagner-pmc-over-human-rights-violations-in-ukraine-syria-and-libya
The renewed Russian troop buildup near the border with Ukraine has been grabbing headlines for more than a month now. Citing intelligence sources, U.S. and European media report that Russia may be preparing for large-scale attack. These tensions brought about a video call between presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin on December 7, after which the U.S. leader announced plans for high-level talks involving at least four major NATO allies and Russia. Is this what the Kremlin wanted? Or is an all-out war really on the table? Meduza turns to political scientists and military experts for some insight. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/11/the-art-of-the-possible
In early December, users in Russia began to have trouble accessing the Tor browser. After several days of technical difficulties, reports emerged that Russia's censorship agency (Roskomnadzor) had sent a notice to the Tor Project team, demanding that they remove unspecified "prohibited content." The project's landing website is currently blocked in Russia, while the Tor browser itself works intermittently. What does this mean for RuNet users? And is Roskomnadzor really capable of fully blocking the Tor browser? For answers to these and other questions, Meduza turned to Leonid Yevdokimov, a technical expert at the digital rights group Roskomsvoboda. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/10/roskomnadzor-2-0
Lawyer Vladimir Voronin says he's been removed from the proceedings on the criminal case against his client Liliya Chanysheva, the former head of Alexey Navalny's campaign office in Ufa. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/10/defense-attorney-vladimir-voronin-removed-from-proceedings-on-extremism-case-against-navalny-associate-liliya-chanysheva
The Russian Health Ministry has registered the world's most expensive drug -- a multi-million dollar gene therapy medication, sold under the brand name Zolgensma. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/09/russia-registers-multi-million-dollar-gene-therapy-drug-zolgensma
At a meeting with Russia's Presidential Human Rights Council on Thursday, Vladimir Putin said that current events in eastern Ukraine "are very reminiscent of genocide." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/09/putin-compares-ukraine-conflict-to-genocide
A St. Petersburg court has jailed prominent investor August Meyer for two months pending trial for fraud. Meyer, a U.S.-born businessman who now holds Russian citizenship, is the owner of the beauty chain Rive Gauche and co-owner of the online retailer Ulmart. He stands accused of two counts of fraud totaling 2.4 billion rubles ($32.6 million). Meyer's wife, Inna, is also a suspect in the case and was placed under house arrest. Speaking in court, in English (see the video below), Meyer recounted coming under pressure from Russian investigators. Allegedly, he was told that if he plead guilty, the authorities would release his wife. "Is it appropriate to hold a wife hostage?" Meyer asked. "Is this 1931 Soviet Union?" Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/09/is-this-1931-soviet-union
A group of lawmakers from the KPRF headed by party leader Gennady Zyuganov have submitted a draft law to the State Duma that would abolish remote electronic voting in Russian elections. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/09/communist-party-submits-draft-law-on-abolishing-electronic-voting-to-russian-state-duma
In 2021, Russia's Communist Party managed to become a headache again for the Kremlin, reemerging as a genuine threat to the country's ruling political party. The Communists staged protests, nominated unruly candidates for the State Duma, and opposed the government's unpopular introduction of COVID-19 vaccine passports. In return, the party's members have found themselves under felony investigation and at the center of attack pieces in the pro-government media. Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev examines how the Kremlin and Russia's security apparatus have targeted the Communist Party, and he explores what we know about President Putin's thoughts on the campaign. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/09/sterilizing-kprf
After nearly two years in a pandemic, the people of Arkhangelsk are tired. That's why now is the perfect time to rename the city "Putingrad," says former Mayor Alexander Donskoi, arguing that the move would kickstart the hopefulness and joy that's been missing since the long winter of the coronavirus. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/09/former-arkhangelsk-mayor-wants-to-rename-the-city-putingrad
The Russian Investigative Committee is looking into the work of popular rappers Oxxxymiron and Noize MC after receiving a "complaint" about their lyrics. As it turns out, the basis for the probe was a satirical LiveJournal post by a left-wing opposition activist, who immediately acknowledged that he wrote it as a joke. With a pre-trial check already underway, Russian investigators now have ten days to decide whether or not to initiate a criminal case. Will they get the joke and drop the probe? Meduza asks experts to weigh in. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/09/a-satire-for-our-time
The Russian Supreme Court has deemed lawful a 1995 presidential decree that classified information about NKVD employees involved in Stalin-era repressions. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/08/russian-supreme-court-upholds-presidential-decree-on-classifying-nkvd-employment-records
Three-quarters (76%) of Russian residents have a "negative" or "rather negative" attitude toward the prospect of the country introducing QR-code vaccine passport prerequisites for accessing public transportation, according to a new opinion poll from the independent Levada Center. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/08/levada-center-three-quarters-of-russians-oppose-qr-code-vaccine-passport-requirements-for-accessing-public-transport
A methane blast at the Listvyazhnaya coal mine in Siberia's Kemerovo region killed 51 people on November 25. It was the deadliest mining accident Russia had seen since 2010. The explosion sent toxic smoke through the mine's ventilation system, suffocating miners and rescue workers who came to their aid. But as miners at the Listvyazhnaya told Meduza, the mine's methane levels had been critical for about two weeks beforehand, ever since a rock collapse "completely crushed" a ventilation shaft. The Listvyazhnaya's management, however, opted against shutting down operations. According to the miners Meduza spoke to, their bosses were afraid they wouldn't fulfill the production plan. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/08/we-were-sitting-on-a-powder-keg
Roughly 10 years ago, on December 4, 2011, elections were held for Russia's State Duma. The official results had United Russia, the ruling party, winning 49% of the vote. The mass voter fraud that led to this result, however, sparked protests across the country -- the largest since the early 1990s. The most notable events in the "Snow Revolution" or "Bolotnaya Revolution," as the protests were referred to by the media (though this was far from a revolution) were the rallies in Moscow: the protest at Chistye Prudy on December 5, the protests on Bolotnaya Square on December 10 and on Sakharov Prospekt on December 24, and the march on Yakimanka Street and the rally on Bolotnaya Street on February 4. The "March of Millions," an opposition march on Bolotnaya Street on May 6, ended in a clash with the police and subsequently with the "Bolotnaya Square Case," in which dozens of people were detained. On the 10th anniversary of the protests, a time when many Russians dared to hope for sweeping political change, Meduza looks back at the leaders and what's become of them in the decade since. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/08/the-past-is-a-foreign-country
Amid tensions over Moscow massing troops on the border with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Joe Biden held virtual talks on Tuesday, December 7. The discussion took place behind closed doors and lasted about two hours. The White House was the first to release a readout, which stated that Biden had promised "strong economic and other measures" in the event that Russia launches a military offensive against Ukraine. In turn, Putin told the U.S. President that Russia wants to obtain "legally fixed guarantees" that would rule out NATO's eastward expansion. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/08/deep-concerns
Russia's censorship agency (Roskomnadzor) has sent a notice to Tor, threatening to block the web browser unless it removes "prohibited information" from its landing page, reported digital rights group Roskomsvoboda on Tuesday, December 7. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/07/russia-s-federal-censor-officially-threatens-to-block-tor-browser
Blogger Yuri Khovansky, currently in pre-trial detention on charges of justifying terrorism, penned an open letter from jail, where he has been since June. In the text, Khovansky says investigators threatened him with serious prison time when he refused a plea bargain. Officers also allegedly promised "problems" for his girlfriend, Maria Nelyubova (who spoke about this before). Khovansky says the authorities suggested that they would plant drugs on her. Meduza is publishing a translation of Khovansky's letter. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/06/it-took-only-four-false-witnesses-to-ruin-my-life
Since August 2020, Russia has detained at least 20 Belarusian nationals facing persecution in their home country amid Alexander Lukashenko's opposition crackdown, says a new report from BBC News Russian. What's more, many of these detainees have been extradited to Belarus -- either in response to official requests from Minsk or for allegedly violating Russian immigration laws. In other cases, Russian law enforcement agencies have expelled Belarusian nationals without going through the courts. Meduza summarizes the Russian BBC's investigation here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/06/lukashenko-s-long-arm
Russia has confirmed its first two cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant, Rospotrebnadzor announced on Monday, December 6. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/06/russia-confirms-first-cases-of-omicron-covid-19-variant
State Duma deputies from Russia's ruling political party have reportedly been coached on how to respond to anti-vaxxer talking points and objections to pandemic restrictions on movement. Two sources in United Russia confirmed to the news website RBC that the party has circulated guidelines for public engagement to its deputies in the parliament. United Russia's press service told RBC that it regularly shares such materials with deputies to keep them informed and effective. The recommendations to lawmakers are a bit odd at times. Meduza summarizes the public messaging campaign Russia's ruling political party has concocted to counter disinformation and paranoia about the coronavirus pandemic and the vaccines developed to fight COVID-19. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/04/how-to-talk-to-anti-vaxxers
The Russian Justice Ministry's registry of "foreign-agent media" now includes more than 100 individuals and organizations. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/03/russian-justice-ministry-surpasses-100-foreign-agent-media-designations
On December 2, Russia's Federal Security Service announced the arrest of three Ukrainian intelligence agents. According to the FSB, one of these assets was planning to set off bombs on Russian soil, while the other two -- a father and son -- had allegedly been paid to gather intelligence on strategic facilities. Ukraine's Security Service (the SBU) dismissed the news as fake, accusing the FSB of trying to discredit Ukrainian intelligence in an act of "revenge." Meduza looks into the detainees and uncovers how a 23-year-old coffee salesman from Kyiv and a father and son duo from a small village in western Ukraine ended up in FSB custody. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/03/two-spies-and-a-terrorist
The state prosecution in the trial of Yuri Dmitriev has asked to prolong the historian's sentence, his lawyer Roman Masalev told TASS. This took place during a hearing at the Petrozavodsk City Court in Russia's Karelia on Friday, December 3. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/03/russian-prosecutors-seek-longer-prison-sentence-for-historian-yuri-dmitriev
Tomsk oppositionist and RusNews journalist Igor Kuznetsov, who is in jail pending trial for allegedly attempting to instigate "mass riots" using Telegram, is facing new charges. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/03/tomsk-journalist-jailed-as-suspect-in-chto-delat-case-charged-with-creating-an-extremist-group
Leadership of Vkontakte, Russia's most popular social network, will likely fall to the son of the Kremlin's domestic policy czar, two sources told The Bell on Friday, claiming "95-percent certainty" that Vladimir Kiriyenko will take over as CEO. A day earlier, another source claimed that Kiriyenko Jr. might find work in the insurance behemoth Sogaz, which acquired control over VK on Thursday in a monster deal with Alisher Usmanov's USM holding company. Another two sources confirmed to the news website RBC that Vladimir Kiriyenko will be VK's next head. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/03/son-of-kremlin-s-domestic-policy-czar-rumored-to-be-taking-over-russia-s-biggest-social-network
On November 25, Russia experienced its deadliest mine accident since 2010. A methane explosion at the Listvyazhnaya coal mine in Siberia's Kemerovo region killed 51 people -- 46 miners and five rescue workers. In the town where the Listvyazhnaya mine is located, it's difficult to find a family that doesn't have a connection to the industry. The people of Gramoteino have been mining coal for generations. Entire families work in the mines and some continue to dig for coal despite the fact that their loved ones have died underground. For Meduza, photographer Sergey Stroitelev traveled to Gramoteino to talk to surviving miners and local families about how they're coping in the aftermath of the disaster. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/03/i-don-t-feel-anything
The Russian Communist Party's faction in the Komi Republic's State Council has a new, unlikely leader: Viktor Vorobyov, a 32-year-old politician who is not a party member or even a leftist. Before he started working with the Communists, Vorobyov tried to register a wing of Alexey Navalny's political party in St. Petersburg, ran for a seat in the State Duma as a Just Russia candidate, and was once a card-carrying member of the liberal opposition party Yabloko. Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev examines how this man with libertarian views and a turbulent political career ended up the leading Communist in Komi's parliament. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/03/the-communists-libertarian-leader
Working abroad in exile, Alexey Navalny's team of researchers has released a new investigative report revealing that Russia's Federal State Register has completely hidden from the country's Unified State Register of Real Estate all records pertaining to the property holdings of several high-ranking government officials, Federal Security Service officers, and their families. The findings, presented by Maria Pevchikh and Georgy Alburov, were published on Navalny's website, which is now blocked inside Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/02/team-navalny-uncovers-russia-s-most-classified-people
Russia's federal censor, Roskomnadzor, has added the e-commerce website Etsy to its listed of banned domains. The agency is enforcing a court order from Tambov in June 2019 that found an Etsy vendor of Gucci knockoffs guilty of violating intellectual property rights. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/02/russia-blocks-etsy-the-internet-s-home-for-handmade-vintage-and-craft-items
Russia's censorship agency (Roskomnadzor) has filed an administrative protocol against GitHub for failing to delete the list of "Smart Vote" endorsements published by Alexey Navalny's team ahead of the State Duma elections in September. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/02/russia-s-censorship-agency-threatens-github-with-fines-over-failure-to-delete-smart-vote-endorsements
Moscow's Simonovsky District Court has replaced the suspended sentence handed down to opposition figure Lyubov Sobol in the "apartment case" with a real prison term. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/12/02/moscow-court-converts-lyubov-sobol-s-suspended-sentence-to-real-prison-time
Many people associate Memorial with the study of Joseph Stalin's Great Terror. But for more than 30 years, this organization has also carried out crucial human rights work, on top of preserving the memory of victims of Soviet-era political repressions. Memorial's staff have played a key role in everything from hostage negotiations to helping refugees and political prisoners. Nevertheless, in November of this year, the Russian Attorney General's Office moved to liquidate the group's parent organization, Memorial International, for allegedly violating the country's legislation on "foreign agents" by failing to include mandatory disclaimers on its public materials. In this brief history, Meduza looks back on the life and work of Russia's oldest and most prominent human rights organization. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/01/something-needed-to-be-done
In 2020, the Russian Supreme Court declared AUE an illegal extremist organization and banned its activities. In its ruling, the court referred to AUE as an "international social movement." But by all appearances, this purported extremist group lacks organizational principles, a hierarchical structure, and other characteristics that typically define a social movement. Indeed, AUE -- short for "Arestansky Uklad Edin," which can be roughly translated as "Prisoner's Lifestyle is Unified" -- is more often described as an informal network. Or as a criminal subculture, whose mostly teenage followers romanticize prison culture and criminal aesthetics. To find out more about AUE and its actual influence in Russia, Meduza spoke to anthropologist Dmitry Gromov about the research behind his forthcoming book, titled "AUE: Criminalization of Youth and Moral Panic." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/12/01/aue-is-an-information-bubble
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Belarusian head of state Alexander Lukashenko said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed on a visit to Crimea. According to Lukashenko, this trip will signify Minsk's recognition of the peninsula as part of Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/30/lukashenko-announces-plans-to-visit-crimea-and-recognize-the-peninsula-as-part-of-russia
Veteran Communist Party (KPRF) lawmaker Valery Rashkin has filed a lawsuit against the Russian State Duma and Otari Arshba, the chairman of the State Duma Commission on Issues of Parliamentary Ethics. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/30/after-losing-immunity-kprf-lawmaker-valery-rashkin-files-lawsuit-against-russia-s-state-duma
Moscow's Izmailovsky District Court has sentenced former Schema-Hegumen Sergii (Nikolai) Romanov to three and a half years in prison, finding him guilty of arbitrariness, violating the right to freedom of conscience and religion, and incitement to suicide, TASS reported on Tuesday, November 30. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/30/ex-communicated-orthodox-priest-who-seized-convent-sentenced-to-3-5-years-in-prison
During a home game on Sunday, November 28, CSKA Moscow fans set off pyrotechnics inside the VEB Arena after their team suffered a 2-0 loss to Zenit St. Petersburg. Upon discovering that the stadium's surveillance cameras were down, Moscow police kept spectators in the stands for three hours, while carrying out hundreds of arrests. On Monday morning, the police reported that they had detained 408 soccer fans in total and filed 51 administrative offense protocols. In response, the Russian Premier League decried the actions of the police, but CSKA Moscow drew even more backlash by condemning fans for committing "unlawful acts." Meanwhile, State Duma lawmakers have seized upon the incident to argue in favor of introducing a "Fan ID" system for sporting events. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/29/a-shot-in-the-back
Prosecutors have asked the court to sentence former Schema-Hegumen Sergii (Nikolai) Romanov to four years in prison, Interfax reported on Monday, November 29. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/29/prosecutors-seek-four-year-prison-sentence-for-ex-communicated-orthodox-priest-who-seized-convent-outside-of-yekaterinburg
Of the 38 coordinators who led Alexey Navalny's regional campaign offices, 14 have left Russia, according to the business newspaper Kommersant. The whereabouts of three more are currently unknown. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/29/kommersant-more-than-a-third-of-navalny-s-former-campaign-office-coordinators-have-left-russia
It's been seven months since Meduza was blacklisted as a "foreign agent" and we're still going strong ?? -- thanks to the support of our wonderful readers, who continue to donate money, buy merch, and call for the repeal of Russia's draconian "foreign agent" legislation. Thank you all so much! Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/26/1day1news1picture
Russian President Vladimir Putin held trilateral talks with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Sochi on Friday, November 26. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/26/putin-holds-trilateral-talks-with-armenia-s-pashinyan-and-azerbaijan-s-aliyev-in-sochi
A Moscow district court has handed a 14-year maximum-security prison sentence to Alexander Ustinov, a Yekaterinburg political strategist accused of blackmailing politicians and businessmen. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/26/moscow-court-sentences-political-strategist-to-14-years-in-max-security-prison-for-kompromat-scheme
A district court in Saratov has jailed the former head of a local prison hospital as a suspect in a criminal case concerning violence against inmates, RIA Novosti reported on Friday, November 26, citing the court's press service. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/26/former-head-of-saratov-prison-hospital-jailed-pending-trial-for-inmate-abuse
University rector Sergey Zuyev has been indicted on new charges for large-scale fraud, Interfax reported on Thursday, November 25. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/25/shaninka-university-rector-sergey-zuyev-indicted-on-new-fraud-charges
Novosibirsk city councilman Sergey Boyko, the former head of Alexey Navalny's local campaign office, has traveled abroad with his family and decided not to return to Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/25/former-head-of-navalny-s-novosibirsk-headquarters-decides-not-to-return-to-russia
President Vladimir Putin has fired Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) Director Alexander Kalashnikov, the Kremlin announced on Thursday November 25. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/25/putin-fires-russia-s-penitentiary-service-chief-alexander-kalashnikov
The Russian State Duma has voted to remove the immunity of veteran Communist Party (KPRF) lawmaker Valery Rashkin, Interfax reported on Thursday, November 25. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/25/russian-state-duma-strips-immunity-of-veteran-communist-party-lawmaker-valery-rashkin
Jailed former Khabarovsk Krai governor Sergey Furgal was indicted in two new criminal cases, his lawyer told RIA Novosti on Wednesday, November 24. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/24/jailed-ex-governor-sergey-furgal-officially-indicted-on-new-charges-including-seven-counts-of-fraud
Russia registered a new version of its "Sputnik" coronavirus vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, the Gamaleya Research Institute confirmed on Wednesday, November 24. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/24/russia-registers-sputnik-m-coronavirus-vaccine-for-adolescents-aged-12-17
The migration crisis on the border of Belarus and the European Union has been going on for months. Thousands of asylum seekers from Middle Eastern and African countries remain stranded in the Eastern European country. Some of them have made several unsuccessful attempts to cross the border into the EU. Seeing no other way out, many have already given up hope and decided to return to their home countries. Reporting from Minsk, Meduza asks migrants stuck in limbo what made them leave their homelands, why they want to get to the European Union, and what they plan to do next. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/24/i-didn-t-have-a-life-in-iraq
Irina Fatyanova, the former head of Alexey Navalny's St. Petersburg campaign headquarters, has revealed that she left Russia about a week ago. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/24/former-head-of-navalny-s-st-petersburg-headquarters-flees-russia-fearing-persecution
Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny has filed another lawsuit against the administration of the prison where he is being held, the state news agency TASS reported on Wednesday, November 24. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/24/alexey-navalny-files-lawsuit-against-prison-for-registering-him-as-extremist
A new joint investigation by iStories and Novaya Gazeta assesses allegations that "foreign agent" media outlets are responsible for "deliberately criminalizing" migrants in news coverage. In late September, a senior police official leveled this accusation, implying that foreign funding fuels popular mischaracterizations of Russia's migrant community. To test this theory, iStories and Novaya Gazeta used neural network analysis to map the sentiments most often attributed to migrants in news reports over the past two years by Telegram's most popular pro-government channels (Karaulny, RT, Readovka, Solovyov, Mash, RIA Novosti, and Lenta) and "foreign agent" channels (Meduza, Dozhd, and Mediazona). The evidence contradicts the Interior Ministry's claims. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/24/inciting-xenophobia
In mid-November, the State Duma received a package of bills that would require Russians to present QR-code vaccine passports in order to take flights and trains, and access public events, stores, cafes, and restaurants. The two draft laws were submitted by the Russian Cabinet and had the potential to enter force as soon as February 1, 2022. Now, all these plans have stalled -- as it turns out, the legislation won't go to the Duma floor for a vote for another month. Meduza sheds light on the high-level tensions behind this delay. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/23/the-nurses-vs-the-economists
Russia's censorship agency (Roskomnadzor) threatened to block the website of the investigative journalism outlet iStories over a report on Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov's connections in the waste removal industry. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/23/russian-censor-threatens-to-block-istories-over-joint-investigation-with-outlawed-proekt
A Russian court has acquitted a Jehovah Witness charged with extremism for the first time since the country's Supreme Court outlawed the religious group in 2017. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/23/russian-court-hands-down-first-ever-acquittal-to-a-jehovah-s-witness-charged-with-extremism
In November, Russia's prosecutor general filed a lawsuit to liquidate Memorial International -- Russia's oldest and most authoritative human rights organization. Memorial was accused of violating Russia's legislation on "foreign agents" by failing to include the required labels on its materials. Almost all of Memorial's alleged violations were reported to Roskomnadzor, Russia's federal censorship agency, by the FSB's Ingushetia office. Meduza explains why that particular office has played such an important role in this story, and whether its complaints against Memorial are at all justified. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/23/the-biggest-threat-in-our-30-year-history
In a study of Russian youth attitudes for Carnegie Moscow Center, a research team led by Andrey Kolesnikov and Denis Volkov gathered a total of six focus groups in three cities (Moscow, Yaroslavl, and Bryansk), assembling two groups in each location, one comprising 18-25-year-olds and the other 30-35-year-olds. The project was designed, in part, to test speculation that a supposedly liberal-leaning, relatively oppositionist new generation of Russians will challenge the current regime's grip on power. Kolesnikov and Volkov attribute the "myth" that youths formed the heart of this year's pro-Navalny protests to the Kremlin's own propaganda, arguing that the authorities used this narrative to depict the Navalny movement as an illegal enterprise, thus justifying a police crackdown. At the same time, however, the narrative betrayed the Kremlin's own concerns about "losing" the next generation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/23/the-next-russians
The State Duma Commission on Mandates Issues has recommended that parliament remove the immunity of veteran Communist Party (KPRF) lawmaker Valery Rashkin, Interfax reported on Monday, November 22. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/22/state-duma-mandates-commission-recommends-removing-valery-rashkin-s-parliamentary-immunity
The Chechen parliament submitted a draft law to the State Duma that would ban the Russian press from mentioning the nationality and religion of people involved in committing crimes. The bill would also prohibit mentioning whether a criminal belongs to an indigenous group. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/22/chechnya-submits-draft-legislation-that-would-ban-russian-media-from-mentioning-the-nationality-and-religion-of-those-involved-in-crimes
Russian governors are being bombarded with comments and messages on Instagram, urging them to oppose draft legislation that would impose new QR-code vaccine passport prerequisites for accessing public places and certain modes of transportation. Journalists from Taiga.Info first reported the online campaign on Thursday, November 18, tracing it to conservative Orthodox groups and other organizations that promote so-called "traditional values." In posts on social networks, these groups called on their supporters to write to their representatives en masse, in an effort to pressure officials to publicly condemn or withdraw the legislation, which could enter force as soon as February 1, 2022. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/18/this-only-takes-20-minutes
The Security Service of Ukraine (the SBU) claims to have thwarted a purported "anti-vaccination" ring that's supposed real aim was to destabilize the socio-political situation in the country. Allegedly, this network operated in various regions of Ukraine and Russian handlers are possibly responsible for coordinating its efforts. On November 16, media reports emerged that SBU operatives were searching the home of prominent Lviv anti-vaxxer Ostap Stakhiv as part of the case. Stakhiv's arraignment, which was initially adjourned because he was allegedly seeking medical treatment and therefore failed to appear in court, took place on November 18. A Lviv district court remanded Stakhiv in custody for two months pending trial, setting bail at almost $38,000. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/19/destructive-activity
In September, Russia's State Hermitage Museum raked in almost $450,000 by auctioning off famous paintings from its collection in the form of NFTs (non-fungible tokens). Despite the fact that cryptocurrency transactions are prohibited in Russia, the state museum still managed to collect the money from the sale of these digital reproductions. To do so, the Hermitage relied on the services of an intermediary, which transferred the money through a chain of third parties based abroad, according to a new report from BBC News Russian. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/19/rubles-cleared-of-risks
On Monday, November 22, Tatarstan became the first Russian region to require commuters to present QR codes documenting either vaccination against COVID-19 or a past diagnosis in order to access public transportation. And although local authorities tried to spread the word about the new rules ahead of time there was still some confusion. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/22/avoiding-qr-code-chaos
The state media holding RT (Russia Today) is trying to obtain a legal monopoly on the Russian term for "foreign agent." The television network trademarked "inostranny agent" in 2020, and late this spring it moved to patent its shortened form, "inoagent." In October, RT's lawyers sent a claim letter to a small brand that put the words "innostranny agent" on a t-shirt. The Moscow-based Feelosophy Store had launched a line merch in support of Meduza -- and it's just one of many small companies that have brought out foreign-agent themed products to express support for NGOs and media outlets blacklisted under this label. If Russian courts side with RT, only the state-run television network will be able to sell t-shirts, keychains, stickers, and other products featuring this term. That said, some lawyers believe that RT's intellectual property rights could be disputed. To find out more, Meduza takes a deep dive into RT's quest to privatize this repressive "brand" created by the Russian state. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/23/pressure-for-pressure-s-sake
Earlier this week, the Russian military fired a missile into outer space and blew up a Soviet "Tselina-D class" satellite that had been orbiting the Earth since 1982. The U.S. government says the weapons test created a large debris cloud that endangers the crew aboard the International Space Station, calling Moscow's behavior "dangerous and irresponsible," which predictably led the Russian Defense Ministry to deny Washington's allegations and accuse the United States of "hypocrisy," given past debris-generating anti-satellite weapons tests by India, China, and America. Meduza summarizes what we know about this week's orbital event and how dangerous it really is. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/18/russia-s-asat-missile-test-in-context
Police in Kazakhstan have freed a Russian national from modern-day slavery, the local news outlets New Times and Tengrinews reported this week. Police officers tracked the man down in the Shet district of the Karaganda region in central Kazakhstan, after they came across a video of him pleading for help from his family. The man in the video, who identified himself as Alexey Kotov, went missing over 20 years ago after he was assaulted at a train station. Kotov's family members, who live in Russia's Yaroslavl region, told the local human rights commissioner that they believed Alexey was alive and made attempts to find him, but never reached out to Russian law enforcement agencies for help. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/17/they-believed-he-was-alive
A Moscow court handed down six fines totaling 132,000 rubles ($1,820) to Novaya Gazeta and its editor-in-chief, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dmitry Muratov, for allegedly failing to disclose the status of "foreign agents" mentioned in the newspaper's articles. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/17/moscow-court-fines-nobel-prize-winner-dmitry-muratov-and-novaya-gazeta-for-abusing-media-freedom
Russia's censorship agency (Roskomnadzor) has appealed to a Moscow court to block the investigative outlet The Insider over its failure to include "foreign agent" disclaimers on its website, reports state news agency TASS. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/17/russian-censorship-agency-asks-moscow-court-to-block-investigative-outlet-the-insider
Lawmakers from the faction A Just Russia -- For Truth submitted a bill to the State Duma that would amend Russia's "foreign agent" legislation such that this status would only be handed down by a court ruling. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/17/a-just-russia-submits-draft-legislation-that-would-require-foreign-agent-status-to-be-handed-down-by-court-ruling
The Russian Attorney General's Office submitted a request to the State Duma to remove the parliamentary immunity of Valery Rashkin, a veteran lawmaker from the Communist Party (KPRF). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/17/russian-state-duma-receives-request-to-strip-immunity-of-veteran-communist-party-lawmaker-valery-rashkin
The police raided the offices of two administrators at Moscow's Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration on Wednesday, searching the workspaces of financial director Alexander Efremov and Vice President Vladimir Fedotov. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/17/police-raid-the-offices-of-another-moscow-university
Lawsuits by the Russian Attorney General's Office now threaten the continued existence of Memorial --both the international historical society and the human rights center. The former is accused of violating Russia's laws on "foreign agents" (for failing to disclose this status to readers), and the latter faces additional charges of "justifying terrorism and extremism" (because the group has declared supposed Islamic radicals, Jehovah's Witnesses, and left-wing nationalists to be political prisoners). The authorities' case is an attempt to smash the most crucial human rights organization left in Russia --a group of activists and scholars who have spent decades working to preserve the memory of the Soviet Union's most brutal political repressions. Meduza presents excerpts of statements from several prominent groups and individuals in support of Memorial. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/17/in-defense-of-memory
Russia's oldest human rights organization, Memorial International, is under threat. Last week, prosecutors filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court seeking to shut down Memorial over "systematic violations" of Russia's legislation on "foreign agents." One of Memorial's greatest projects is a database of victims of the USSR's political terror, a resource that has connected countless people with information about their relatives lost to the purges. In their own words, the descents of Soviet terror victims recount how Memorial helped them uncover their family histories, and share their thoughts on the authorities going after the rights group. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/17/this-is-an-attempt-to-erase-my-memory
Russia's federal censor (Roskomnadzor) has blocked bok-o-bok.com, a website run by the Side by Side ("Bok o Bok") LGBT International Film Festival. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/16/russian-censorship-agency-blocks-website-of-lgbtq-film-festival
Russia is reporting 38,893 new coronavirus cases on average each day. Despite that, most Russians have little desire to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Indeed, only 35 percent of the country's population is fully vaccinated. The authorities in the Kremlin are well-aware of this fact -- and, according to Meduza's sources, they want to change the situation. As Meduza found out, President Vladimir Putin's Executive Office (the Presidential Administration) is going to take charge of rebooting Russia's mass vaccination campaign. Officials in Putin's administration complain that anti-vaccine rhetoric has "become mainstream" on the Russian Internet, and therefore plan to focus their efforts on promoting vaccination online. But although the Kremlin expects to be able to win over people who are on the fence about getting the jab, there are worries that forcing vaccinations could bring down Putin's ratings. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/16/trust-fall
Representatives of the Russian Union of Journalists and the Presidential Human Rights Council have prepared amendments to Russia's "foreign agent" legislation and submitted them to lawmaker Alexander Khintsein, the head of the State Duma Committee on Informational Policy. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/16/human-rights-council-and-journalists-union-submit-amendments-to-russia-s-foreign-agent-legislation
A day after Pentagon spokesman John Kirby accused Russia of littering the space around Earth with hundreds of thousands of pieces of debris after testing a direct ascent anti-satellite weapon, Defense Ministry officials in Moscow have confirmed that a military test resulted in damage to one of Russia's inoperative orbital spacecrafts. Russian officials say the incident involved its "Tselina-D" satellite, which the USSR launched back in 1982. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/16/russian-military-denies-that-destroyed-satellite-debris-threatened-international-space-station
President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree instructing the government to take steps to ease access to Russian markets for goods from the "Donetsk People's Republic" (DNR) and the "Luhansk People's Republic" (LNR), reports the state news agency TASS. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/15/putin-signs-decree-easing-access-to-russian-markets-for-goods-from-the-donetsk-and-luhansk-people-s-republics
Russian Jehovah's Witnesses have been fleeing to Belarus ever since Russia banned the religious group in 2017. Since then, Russia's Attorney General has asked Belarus to extradite at least two Russian Jehovah's Witnesses back to their home country. But in both cases, Belarus refused. The exact number of Russian Jehovah's Witnesses who've fled to Belarus is unknown. Meduza tells the stories of several Russian asylum seekers who fled their home country in order to continue practicing their faith. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/15/when-they-persecute-you-in-one-city-flee-to-another
Catering tycoon Evgeny Prigozhin has filed a complaint with prosecutors against Irina Levontina, a forensic linguistics expert who works for the Russian Language Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Levontina served as an expert witness in two defamation lawsuits that Prigozhin filed against journalists. According to Novaya Gazeta, the Kremlin-linked oligarch is accusing Levontina of "misconduct" because she included the Russian Language Institute's official seal on paperwork submitted to the courts as expert evidence. Levontina believes that the complaints are an attempt to have her opinions, which don't support Prigozhin's claims in either case, thrown out. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/15/seal-of-disapproval
The Russian authorities have taken an interest in another standup comic. Denis Chuzhoi revealed last week that the police in his hometown started questioning his friends, immediately following the release of his third solo performance, which includes jokes about Alexey Navalny, corruption, and even President Putin. At Meduza's request, comedy critic Ashot Danelyan reviewed Chuzhoi's act, arguing that it's a worthy show, despite some obvious shortcomings. Generally, there are three avenues to success in Russian standup: television, alternative clubs (like Stand-up Club No 1, Outside Stand-up, and others), and the indie scene, where a comic builds a relationship directly with the audience. Denis Chuzhoi is traveling this latter route. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/15/not-afraid-to-joke-about-lukashenko-navalny-or-lil-putin
As the coronavirus continues to spread out of control in Russia, the federal government has submitted draft legislation to the State Duma that would require people to present QR codes documenting either vaccination against COVID-19 or a past diagnosis in order to enter public places or access certain forms of transportation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/12/russian-government-drafts-legislation-that-would-require-qr-code-vaccine-passports-for-access-to-many-public-places-and-certain-modes-of-transportation
The Russian Justice Ministry has designated well-known LGBTQ+ rights activist Igor Kochetkov as a "foreign agent." The ministry added Kochetkov to its "foreign-agent media" registry on Friday, November 12. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/12/russia-declares-lgbtq-rights-activist-igor-kochetkov-a-foreign-agent
On November 10, a court in Ufa jailed Liliya Chanysheva for two months pending trial for 'extremism.' The former head of Alexey Navalny's regional campaign office in Bashkiria, Chanysheva is the first suspect to be arrested as part of a criminal case opened against the imprisoned opposition leader and his close associates for creating an "extremist group." Investigators launched the case retroactively in late September 2021, months after a Moscow court outlawed Navalny's anti-corruption nonprofits and countrywide political network as "extremist" organizations. During her arraignment, Chanysheva told the court that she may be in the early stages of pregnancy. Nevertheless, she was remanded in custody until January 9, 2022. If found guilty, she will face up to a decade in prison. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/12/local-officials-revenge
Natalia Poklonskaya is one of the few politicians in Russia with international recognition. She owes this reputation to her two years as Crimea's first post-annexation attorney general (inspiring several Internet memes based on her demure public presence). Afterward, she moved to Moscow and served one term as a federal lawmaker in Russia's State Duma, drawing the media's attention for her religious conservativism and opposition to raising the country's retirement ages (she was the only United Russia deputy to vote against the party's unpopular pension reforms). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/12/former-crimean-attorney-general-natalia-poklonskaya-privatizes-730-thousand-moscow-apartment
On Friday, November 12, Russia's Presidential Human Rights Council released a statement of concern in response to prosecutors asking the courts to liquidate Memorial International and the Memorial Human Rights Center (Memorial HRC). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/12/russian-human-rights-council-decries-prosecutors-move-to-shut-down-memorial-as-disproportionate
Nineteen-year-old Katya Levchenko disappeared in the spring of 2017, but it wasn't until February 2020 that her mother, Tatyana, learned that Katya had died. That's when Meduza released an investigation that outlined several Penza Network case suspects' possible involvement in the murder of Katya Levchenko and her boyfriend Artyom Dorofeyev, who disappeared along with her. In early October 2021, Maxim, who had already been sentenced to 13 years in prison for allegedly plotting terrorist activity (the Russian authorities consider the Network a terrorist organization) and attempting to sell illegal drugs, was charged with Levchenko's and Ivankin's murders. Soon after, another Network case suspect, Alexey Poltavets, who first told Meduza about the murders and confessed to one of them himself, was put on the wanted list. Meduza special correspondent Kristina Safonova spoke with Tatyana Levchenko about her daughter's life and death, her attitude towards Ivankin, last year's investigation, and a future without Katya. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/12/if-you-die-i-ll-die-too
Roughly two-thirds (65 percent) of Russians say they're unaware that the state authorities maintain a registry of "foreign agent" media outlets, which currently includes independent publications like Meduza and Dozhd television. Just 34 percent of respondents in a new survey by the Levada Center told pollsters that they've heard something about this. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/12/polling-shows-that-russians-just-don-t-care-about-foreign-agent-designations-for-journalists-and-most-don-t-even-know-it-s-happening
Darknet forums and Telegram channels have started selling databases containing the personal information of Russians who purchased fake COVID-19 vaccination certificates and forged PCR test results. Journalists at Kommersant spoke to one vendor who offered to sell them a database with 1,000 lines of information for $120. The file contained people's passport numbers, insurance policy numbers, telephone numbers, home addresses, and information about when they received their forged documents. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/12/personal-data-of-more-than-half-million-muscovites-who-bought-fake-vaccine-certificates-now-for-sale-on-darknet
As Russia confronts its latest wave of deadly coronavirus infections, the state media wages a war against homegrown vaccine skeptics. Journalists call them "halfwit anti-vaxxers" and "imbecile murderers." Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of Russia Today, has raised questions about these individuals' basic "cognitive abilities" and accused them of poisoning the nation's solidarity, prompting allegations of hate speech against Russia's anti-vaccine community. These same people, however, adore Simonyan's main product: RT's reporting for foreign audiences. And it's no wonder why: When it comes to pandemic coverage at the network's English-language division and especially its German-language branch, Russia Today actively amplifies unscientific information about COVID-19 and features many guests who are openly hostile to the very idea of vaccination. As a result, RT's content for audiences abroad becomes material that Russia's own vaccine opponents cite as "proof" against the need for inoculation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/11/the-two-faces-of-rt-s-coronavirus-propaganda
Russian citizens in need of public housing often go decades without receiving assistance. Meanwhile, hundreds of government officials -- including ministers, governors, and their deputies -- have received tens of millions of rubles in housing subsidies since 2012, according to a joint report from iStories and Transparency International Russia. What's more, the investigation uncovered that some of these officials deemed "needy" already owned multiple pieces of real estate. Meanwhile, others have used these funds to purchase additional properties or, by all appearances, haven't used this government money to purchase any housing at all. Meduza summarizes the report's findings here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/10/the-greedy-needy
A district court in Ufa has jailed political activist Liliya Chanysheva for two months pending trial, her lawyer Vladimir Voronin reported on Wednesday, November 10. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/10/former-navalny-activist-jailed-for-two-months-pending-trial-for-creating-an-extremist-group
Russian prosecutors have terminated the criminal case against former inmate and whistleblower Sergey Savelyev, reports the human rights group Gulagu.net. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/10/russia-drops-criminal-case-against-prison-torture-whistleblower-sergey-savelyev
The Tbilisi City Court began the trial in the case of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Wednesday, November 10. But the proceedings were quickly adjourned until the end of the month. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/10/trial-of-ex-georgian-president-mikheil-saakashvili-adjourned-until-november-29
Following the release of more footage showing inmates being tortured at a prison hospital in the Saratov region, the local department of the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) fired 18 of its employees. This was reported by the acting department head, Anton Yefrakin, on Wednesday, November 10. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/10/eighteen-prison-officials-fired-in-saratov-after-another-torture-video-surfaces
Russia's Justice Ministry is responsible for maintaining separate registries for the many types of "foreign agents." The list of "unregistered public associations performing the functions of a foreign agent" is by far the shortest one -- it gained its third entry on Monday, November 8, when the Justice Ministry designated the Russian LGBT Network as a "foreign agent." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/09/we-will-continue-to-work
For many months, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia have accused the Belarusian authorities of fomenting a refugee crisis. These European Union countries bordering Belarus have complained about a sharp increase in illegal crossings since the spring. But Minsk has replied that it won't prevent migrants from the Middle East and Africa from transiting to the EU because, according to President Alexander Lukashenko, the West "unleashed a hybrid war" with Belarus. On Monday, November 8, the Polish Defense Ministry posted videos showing groups of migrants trying to knock down a barbed-wire border fence, in an apparent attempt to make a mass crossing into the EU country. That evening, Belarusian authorities reported that an estimated 2,000 refugees, including families with children, had massed on the border with Poland. Meduza shares snapshots taken by photojournalist Maciej Moskwa on the Polish side of the border amid the migration crisis fueled by Minsk. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/09/pushed-back
On Tuesday, November 9, Russian law enforcement in Ufa arrested Liliya Chanysheva, the former head of Alexey Navalny's regional campaign office in Bashkiria. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/09/activist-arrested-in-ufa-as-first-suspect-in-extremism-case-against-alexey-navalny
St. Petersburg's Chief Sanitary Doctor Nataliya Bashketova has decided to make vaccination against the coronavirus mandatory for city residents over 60 years old and for people with chronic illnesses. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/09/st-petersburg-introduces-mandatory-vaccination-against-covid-19-for-people-over-60-years-old
Russia's Justice Ministry added five more names to its registry of "media foreign agents" on Monday, November 8. These latest additions are all former members of Team 29, a legal association that disbanded in July 2021, but was once known for tackling Russia's most difficult treason and espionage cases. Team 29's founder and former head, prominent lawyer Ivan Pavlov, was designated as a "foreign agent," along with attorney Valerya Vetoshkina (who represented Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation), lawyer Maxim Olenichev, former SMM editor Elena Skvortsova, and the former head of the group's media department, Maxim Zagovora. Speaking to Meduza, Ivan Pavlov shares what he thinks about his new status. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/09/my-clients-are-the-target
On Tuesday, November 9, the Moscow City Court decided to transfer university rector Sergey Zuyev from house arrest to jail, pending trial for large-scale fraud. He was taken into custody at the hearing, Sota reported. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/09/shaninka-university-rector-sergey-zuyev-transferred-from-house-arrest-to-jail
At 27, Vera Kotelnikova is one of the stars of Russia's independent standup comedy scene. Late last year, she released a half-hour special where she riffed on feminism, masturbation, relationships, weight loss, and other sensitive topics. On YouTube, the show now has more than 1.4 million views. Kotelnikova has appeared on several other popular comedy programs, as well. Meduza special correspondent Alexandra Sivtsova spoke to Kotelnikova to find out how comedians in Russia come up with their jokes, cope with self-doubts, manage creative stagnation, and navigate various forms of censorship. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/09/i-m-no-fighter-really
Hundreds, if not thousands, of refugees stranded in Belarus set up an improvised camp on the border with Poland on the evening of Monday, November 8, following an unsuccessful attempt at a mass crossing into the European Union. Reportedly, most of the migrants are from the Middle East and many of them are Kurdish. Reports of a large column headed towards the border with Poland first appeared on social media on Monday morning. Videos and photos posted online show armed Belarusian border guards escorting migrants, including families with children, as they move towards the border area. In videos shared by the Polish Defense Ministry, groups of refugees can be seen trying to knock down a barbed-wire border fence, as Polish guards push them back with tear gas. Warsaw claims the escalation in tensions at the border was deliberately orchestrated by Minsk. Belarusian border authorities said on Monday that the migrants have no intention of staying in Belarus and that their ultimate destination is the EU. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/09/instrumentalizing-migrants
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of the most popular multiplayer first-person shooter games around, and the unofficial CS:GO world title now belongs to Natus Vincere (NAVI), a team based in Kyiv comprising Russian and Ukrainian players. In the final game of the latest Major Championship tournament (held in Stockholm over the past two weeks), NAVI defeated the European team G2 Esports by a score of 2:0. For the first time in the tournament's history, the winning team claimed its crown without losing a single map in the game. During the competition's closing ceremony, NAVI player Kirill Mikhailov even proposed to his girlfriend. (She later said yes.) Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/09/brothers-in-arms
The Russian Justice Ministry has made two high-profile additions to its registries of "foreign agents" -- the rights group Russian LGBT Network and exiled human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/08/russia-declares-russian-lgbt-network-a-foreign-agent-along-with-exiled-lawyer-ivan-pavlov
Months after adding four Proekt journalists to its "foreign agent" registry, the Russian Justice Ministry has finally clarified the formal basis for this decision. The justifications were listed in the written objections the ministry submitted to Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky District Court, which is considering the journalists' administrative claims demanding the repeal of their "foreign agent" status. The court hearings began on Monday, November 8, with both sides presenting evidence in the cases. The court allocated just 15 minutes for each hearing. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/08/direct-links
In an abrupt policy change, the Russian state news agency Rossiya Segodnya has forbidden its reporters from referring to the Taliban in published content as a terrorist organization that is banned in Russia. The Telegram channel Ostorozhno Novosti (a project by Ksenia Sobchak) broke the story, sharing a copy of an internal memo sent to the news agency's personnel. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/08/russian-state-media-orders-reporters-to-stop-calling-the-taliban-a-banned-terrorist-organization
Russia's nationwide period of "non-working days" -- announced by the federal government in late October, to slow the spread of COVID-19 -- ended on Sunday, November 7. But five regions opted for extended lockdowns at the local level. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/08/five-russian-regions-extend-non-working-days-due-to-covid-19
Russian national Yegor Dudnikov has been in detention in Minsk since May, awaiting trial on charges of organizing actions that grossly violated public order. Now, the Belarusian authorities have brought an additional charge against him. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/08/belarus-brings-new-criminal-charges-against-jailed-russian-national-yegor-dudnikov
Legendary Soviet news anchor Igor Kirillov died in Moscow on October 30. He was 89 years old. For more than two decades, Kirillov hosted Vremya -- a nightly news program viewed religiously throughout the entire USSR -- and in doing so became a Soviet institution. Like hundreds of millions of others, journalist Ekaterina Barabash experienced Kirillov live and on the air. At Meduza's request, she reflects on the man and his broadcasts. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/06/the-soviet-people-s-shrink
Four years ago today, on November 5, 2017, Vladislav Mordasov picked the wrong day to go out and protest. Then 21-years-old, he and his friend -- 18-year-old Yan Sidorov -- took to the square outside of the regional government building in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, with posters demanding support for local residents who had lost their homes to a major fire. The activists were arrested, and later accused of helping "Artpodgotovka," a banned movement led by exiled nationalist politician Vyacheslav Maltsev, orchestrate the so-called "November 5th Revolution." Initially, both Mordasov and Sidorov pleaded guilty, but they later stated that they confessed under torture. Nevertheless, the two were convicted and sentenced to 6.5 years in a maximum security prison colony. The Russian Supreme Court later reduced their prison sentences to three years. Both Mordasov and Sidorov were released on Wednesday, November 3. At Meduza's request, journalist Gleb Golod, who covered the "Rostov Case," spoke to Vladislav Mordasov about his time in prison and plans for the future. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/05/i-wasn-t-an-activist-before-that-day
Russia's gastronomic world was shaken in mid-October when the renowned Michelin Guide awarded Michelin stars to several Moscow restaurants for the first time ever. It was a long time coming for the country's gourmands, who have hoped for the Michelin Guide's recognition for over two decades. Seven restaurants received one star while two others received two stars, but no establishment received the coveted three-star distinction. In total, 69 Moscow eateries received a mention in this year's Michelin Guide. For Meduza, food reporter Anton Obrezchikov breaks down who received stars, how they earned them, and why some people are critical of the whole affair. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/05/a-matter-of-taste
On Friday, November 5, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands overturned a ruling for Russia to pay approximately $50 billion to former shareholders of the oil giant Yukos. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/05/dutch-supreme-court-overturns-50-billion-award-to-former-yukos-shareholders-kicks-case-to-lower-court
Anton Cherepennikov has had quite the career and he's not yet 40. A decade ago, he partnered with Alexey Kolesnikov, one of the best eSports players in Russia, to form a premiere team that grew into a briefly profitable business, training players and drawing major sponsorships before it attracted a massive investment from the oligarch Alisher Usmanov. Cherepennikov's greatest impact as a businessman, however, hasn't been in competitive computer gaming but in the cybersecurity industry, where he founded a holding company called "Citadel" that now controls most of the manufacturing for Russia's key surveillance technology: "SORM." In a report for the news outlet Baza, sources told journalist Andrey Kaganskikh that Cherepennikov is not, in fact, an independent figure in the SORM market, calling him "an avatar for Alisher Usmanov's business interests." Cherepennikov insists that he is a "self-made" entrepreneur, and he's spent the past several years trying hard to distance himself from the oligarch. Meduza summarizes Baza's profile of Cherepennikov. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/05/shall-we-play-a-game
2021 has been a bad year for Russian journalism. Numerous independent media outlets were declared "foreign agents," security officials raided the homes of reporters and editors, several media projects shut down entirely, and dozens of journalists left the country, fearing unlawful persecution. Meduza (the news site you're reading right now) was labeled a "foreign agent" in April, which forced us to restructure our operations. To stay afloat, we launched a crowdfunding campaign and a merch shop. We and other journalists need your support more than ever. Luckily, it's easy to make a contribution. In September, the brand Friend Function collaborated with Meduza to launch a special collection of clothes and accessories called "Pressa" (the Russian word for "the press") -- for those who believe in freedom of speech and want to show solidarity with independent newsrooms. We also asked our colleagues why they continue to work as journalists, in spite of it all. Here's what they told us. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/04/you-can-t-just-walk-away
Russia's federal media regulator, Roskomnadzor, has refused to register the website Gubernia Media as a news outlet on the grounds that its editor-in-chief, Denis Kamalyagin, has been designated as "foreign agent." Journalists learned about the agency's position from records filed in Kamalyagin's lawsuit against Roskomnadzor. Officials argue that July 2021 amendments to Article 19.1 of Russia's mass media law prohibit foreign states, nationals, and organizations from establishing any form of control or influence over a media outlet's founders or editorial board. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/04/russian-officials-refuse-to-register-independent-news-outlet-due-to-founder-s-foreign-agent-status
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko have inked a package of 28 "union programs" aimed at integrating their two countries. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/04/putin-and-lukashenko-approve-28-union-programs-for-integrating-russia-and-belarus
Dutch journalist Tom Vennink, a Moscow correspondent for the newspaper de Volkskrant, has been expelled from Russia. In an interview with de Volkskrant, Vennink said that on Monday, November 1, the Russian authorities gave him three days to leave the country. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/04/dutch-journalist-tom-vennink-expelled-from-russia
Two ex-convicts who were recently in prison with Alexey Navalny have described to journalists how officials bully and try to demoralize the opposition politician. Former inmates Nariman Osmanov and Evgeny Burak told Dozhd television that prisoners at Pokrov's Correctional Facility Number 2 were instructed not to speak to Navalny, to ensure that he remains socially isolated. To discourage interactions with Navalny, officials even screened a video for the inmates that depicted him as gay. In another attempt to torment Navalny after he returned from the hospital, prison officials allegedly deprived him of sleep for three nights by transferring an inmate to the neighboring cell and arranging for him to "make different sounds" until dawn. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/04/former-inmates-describe-how-alexey-navalny-is-bullied-and-isolated-in-prison
The political bloc of the Moscow Mayor's office has begun campaign preparations for the 2022 municipal elections. As Meduza found out, the city administration plans to bet on public sector workers, who will run either as self-nominees or as members of the ruling party, United Russia. Candidates from systemic opposition parties will likely be able to campaign unhindered, but real oppositionists won't see their names on the ballot. And electronic voting, which proved deeply controversial during the 2021 State Duma elections, isn't going anywhere. Meduza breaks down the key points in the preliminary campaign plan here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/03/elections-totalitarian-style
The Russian investigative outlet The Insider and its partner Bellingcat have published extracts from a criminal case that appear to corroborate that the data used in their joint investigation into the poisoning of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny is the legitimate data of FSB agents. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/03/criminal-case-documents-link-data-used-in-navalny-poisoning-investigation-to-fsb-agents
Ivan Safronov, a former journalist and adviser to the head of Russia's space agency, has been in Moscow's Lefortovo remand prison for 15 months, awaiting trial for treason. The details of the charges against him remain practically unknown. Reportedly, investigators wrapped up their work at the end of October, and Safronov and his lawyers have been able to begin analyzing the case materials. During his 15 months in custody, Safronov hasn't been permitted a single visit or phone call with any of his family members, and for the last month he's also been banned from sending and receiving correspondence. Safronov was moved to a higher-security cell during the summer of 2021, and in early November he was transferred to punitive confinement for three days. Meduza traces the twists and turns of Ivan Safronov's time in jail. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/03/tightening-the-screws
The Belarusian Interior Ministry has declared the Polish-funded television channel Belsat an "extremist formation" and banned its activities in Belarus. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/03/belarus-declares-polish-funded-belsat-tv-an-extremist-formation
The Russian government has expanded the list of departments whose procurements are classified as secret. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/03/russian-government-classifies-national-guard-and-secret-service-procurements
Evgeny Martynov isn't like other high school principals. City officials in Achinsk (about 100 miles west of Krasnoyarsk) announced his appointment as school director on October 29, welcoming him from the "Zapadny" social welfare center, which he supervised for the past two years. Officials praised Martynov's ability to make learning "comfortable for children and teachers alike," but they omitted his full resume: For more than a decade, he worked at a nearby prison where inmates have complained of torture. Martynov rose to the rank of deputy warden before leaving Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service at some point after 2010. His first day as school principal is November 9. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/03/meet-the-new-school-principal
Last week, as Russians remembered the victims of political repressions during the Soviet Union, the human rights group Memorial updated its list of persons imprisoned in modern-day Russia for political or religious reasons. There are now 420 people on Memorial's list, and activists say the true number could be several times higher. This magnitude of repression rivals what Russians experienced in the late Soviet period, but the public today seems largely unbothered by the situation. Even before the authorities tightened restrictions on demonstrations, expanded the persecution of protest organizers, and dismantled Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, few citizens openly displayed dissatisfaction with the state by picketing or attending rallies. Meduza asked a sociologist, a political scientist, a historian, and a psychologist why Russians appear to be so indifferent to the repression of their compatriots. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/03/russia-s-indifference-problem
In 2019, Russia's Constitutional Court ordered the State Duma to make amendments to the 1991 law "On the rehabilitation of victims of political repressions." On paper, this legislation grants victims of Stalin's Great Terror, as well as their children born in exile or in the Gulag system, the right to free housing in the places their families once lived. However, starting in 2004, regional authorities began placing the descendents of victims of Soviet-era political repressions on general waitlists with thousands of other people in need of public housing. This has made it practically impossible for these "children of the Gulag" to return home. Meanwhile, draft laws aimed at putting in place special procedures for granting them immediate housing compensation have failed to make it through parliament. On November 1, the Russian Supreme Court rejected a class-action lawsuit filed over the State Duma's apparent inaction. Prior to the claim's dismissal, Meduza spoke to some of the plaintiffs. Here are their stories. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/02/they-re-waiting-for-everyone-to-die
The final indictment in the treason case against Ivan Safronov, a former journalist and advisor to the head of Russia's space agency, has revealed new details about the accusations against him. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/02/jailed-journalist-ivan-safronov-accused-of-passing-information-about-russian-troops-in-syria-lawyer-says
Facebook has shut down the account of activist Vladimir Osechkin, the founder of the human rights group Gulagu.net. Writing in a Telegram post on Tuesday, November 2, Gulagu.net stated that by all appearances, Osechkin's account has been deleted. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/02/facebook-shuts-down-account-of-russian-prisoners-rights-activist
The official Google account and linked YouTube channel of the Belarusian Investigative Committee has been blocked due to international sanctions imposed on Belarusian officials and organizations. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/02/google-permanently-blocks-belarusian-investigative-committee-s-youtube-channel-due-to-sanctions
An unusually thick fog enveloped the city of Moscow late on November 1, reducing visibility to as little as 200 meters (about 220 yards) at times. Emergency workers warn that the fog will continue until about 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2. Moscow airports have delayed 169 flights and canceled another 33. According to the Telegram channel Readovka, emissions from factories outside the capital may have contributed in part to the sudden "smog." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/02/moscow-in-the-fog
Moscow law enforcement arrested three people on suspicion of illegally leaking the personal data of private citizens "that was later used by Alexey Navalny in carrying out his investigations," the Russian state news agency TASS reported on Monday, November 1. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/01/they-were-used
Russia's Novgorod region will extend its "non-working days" for an additional week, announced Governor Andrey Nikitin on Monday, November 1. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/01/russia-s-novgorod-region-becomes-first-to-extend-non-working-days-due-to-covid-19
In mid-July 2021, the Russian Attorney General's Office declared the investigative news outlet Proekt an "undesirable organization," effectively outlawing the publication. That same day, the Justice Ministry designated five Proekt journalists (including editor-in-chief Roman Badannin) as "foreign agents." In the weeks that followed, state officials added nearly all of Proekt's former reporters to the "foreign agents" registry, even designating some journalists who left the project long before its "undesirable" status. One of these people was Pyotr Manyakhin, a journalist in Novosibirsk, who is now challenging the Justice Ministry's decision in court. The agency has now shared its objections to this lawsuit. Meduza breaks down the authorities' peculiar logic. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/01/above-the-law
Scammers are using websites disguised as the sites of well-known Russian laboratories to sell fake coronavirus test certificates, according to a new report from the St. Petersburg-based 47news. Journalist Viktor Smirnov reported that he was able to gain access to the admin panel used to run these "clone" sites, where clients can order falsified proof of PCR test results. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/11/01/faking-it
On the morning of Monday, November 1, Russia reported that 40,402 new coronavirus cases had been registered in the last 24 hours, as well as 1,155 fatalities. This marks the third day in a row that the country has seen more than 40,000 new cases. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/11/01/for-the-third-day-running-russia-registers-more-than-40-000-new-coronavirus-cases
From graduating from the prestigious Bauman Moscow State Technical University to serving as Russia's deputy education minister and Sberbank's vice president, Marina Rakova has had an impressive career as a public figure. Nonetheless, on October 7, she was sent to a pre-trial detention center on charges of large-scale embezzlement. Rakova's former Sberbank colleagues Maxim Inkin and Yevgeny Zak were also detained, as well as former Moscow School for the Social and Economic Sciences ("Shaninka") director Kristina Kryuchkova and rector Sergey Zuyev. Meduza explains the charges -- and how they're connected to recent attempts by Rakova and others to restructure Russia's education system. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/30/textbook-monopoly-behavior
Communist Party (KPRF) lawmaker Valery Rashkin was detained on charges of illegal hunting, TASS reported on Friday, October 29. A source in law enforcement told the state news agency that Rashkin was stopped in the Lysogorsky District of the Saratov Region while driving under the influence, and that police found an elk carcass in his vehicle. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/29/saratov-police-arrest-communist-party-lawmaker-valery-rashkin-for-illegal-hunting
On Friday, October 29, a Moscow court sentenced blogger Ruslan Bobiev and his girlfriend, model Anastasia Chistova, to 10 months in prison for "offending religious sentiment." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/29/for-the-first-time-in-russia-offending-religious-sentiment-lands-two-young-people-in-prison-their-crime-a-joke-about-oral-sex
Since early October, there have been ongoing protests in Tbilisi by political oppositionists demanding the release of former President Mikheil Saakashvili, who was arrested after secretly crossing the border into Georgia and returning to the country for the first time in eight years. He now faces at least six years in prison. Meduza asked Georgian journalist Diana Shanava to recount how the former president's homecoming has divided Georgian society. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/28/misha-we-re-here
Federal investigators in St. Petersburg are hot on the trail of another potentially offensive work of art. This latest culprit is a painting by Kirill Miller depicting a crowd of people carrying portraits of rotting, dead-eyed ghouls. Wounded members of the public say the piece, titled "The Living and the Dead," mocks the "Immortal Regiment" -- an annual march staged in many cities across Russia on Victory Day where participants carry portraits of ancestors who fought in World War II. Miller says his painting predates the Immortal Regiment tradition, which emerged less than a decade ago, but state officials seem keen to police this apparently unforgivable assault on the feelings of veterans and their descendants. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/28/living-deadly-art
A resident of the Russian city of Tomsk spent three days passing himself off as a doctor in order to sneak into a coronavirus hospital's "red zone" and care for his grandmother, after she was hospitalized with pneumonia. The grandson claimed that medical workers weren't treating or feeding the elderly woman, or changing her diapers. After being found out, the man tried to bring his grandmother's case to the attention of local authorities, but no one answered his phone calls. He then decided to fly to Moscow, where he succeeded in getting the Attorney General's Office to launch an inquiry. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/28/i-lost-it
Deputies in the Tatarstan State Council have voted against proposed federal legislation that would force all regional heads across the country to adopt the same title, abolishing Tatarstan's own "presidency." Tatarstan is Russia's last holdout that still calls its regional head of state "president" -- a fiercely guarded totem of local independence. The federal government in Moscow has spent more than a decade pursuing greater centralization and trying to pressure and persuade officials in the republic to drop the title so that the Kremlin alone can claim it. In contemporary Russian politics, it's only mild hyperbole to compare the vote in the State Council to separatism. Meduza explains why the local presidency is so important to Tatarstan and how the federal authorities will likely respond to this affront. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/29/hail-to-the-chiefs
Since 2007, on October 29, the Memorial Human Rights Center has organized "Returning the Names" -- an annual commemorative event dedicated to victims of Soviet-era repressions. In past years, participants read out the names of victims of Joseph Stalin's Great Terror at the Solovetsky Stone in Moscow's Lubyanka Square. But, due to the coronavirus pandemic, "Returning the Names" has taken on a different format since 2020. Rather than gathering together, participants were asked to record videos in historical or symbolic locations, and send them to the organizers to be broadcast in a live stream. The commemoration is taking place from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. Moscow time, today, on the eve of Russia's Day of Remembrance of Victims of Political Repression. You can watch the broadcast below. Details on how to participate in the commemoration are available in Russian here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/29/returning-the-names
The number of political prisoners in Russia today is nearly five times higher than it was five years ago, according to the latest report from the Memorial Human Rights Center. Activists began maintaining a list of Russian political prisoners in the late 2000s, and for a long time it was made up of a few dozen names. But this tally has increased sharply since 2015. Today, the country has 420 political prisoners and is poised to catch up to the numbers seen during the twilight years of the USSR. All of these people are being persecuted for their political or religious beliefs. To find out more about the nature of political persecution in Russia today, Meduza spoke to prominent human rights activist Sergey Davidis, who leads Memorial's "Support for Political Prisoners" program. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/27/420-give-or-take
On the eve of Russia's 2021 parliamentary elections, the Investigative Committee launched a criminal case for "inducing mass riots" using Telegram. According to investigators, "at least eleven people from seven regions of Russia" are considered suspects. But the authorities have only named one of them so far -- 44-year-old Dmitry Chebanov, a Moscow resident who created a Telegram channel called "Chto-Delat!" ("What to Do!"). In turn, human rights activists and journalists identified several other people who are facing felony charges for allegedly trying to instigate mass riots during September's vote. If convicted, they will face a maximum punishment of ten years in prison. As Meduza uncovered, these defendants are also associated with Chebanov's little-known Telegram network. To piece together the story behind this criminal case, Meduza special correspondent Kristina Safonova spoke with the lawyers, family members, and friends of the accused. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/29/what-to-do
Russia's censorship agency (Roskomnadzor or RKN) has added the messaging app Telegram and the blogging platform LiveJournal to its registry of social networks. By law, these two platforms are now required to moderate and block content prohibited in Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/26/russia-s-censor-obliges-telegram-and-livejournal-to-block-prohibited-content
Russian authorities have reportedly launched another criminal case against opposition figure and Navalny associate Lyubov Sobol on the application of Kremlin-linked oligarch Evgeny Prigozhin. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/27/lyubov-sobol-facing-criminal-charges-in-another-prigozhin-defamation-case
The Russian restaurant chain "Tanuki" has requested that prosecutors in the Nizhny Novgorod Region investigate everyone who made donations to the far-right hate group "Male State" for financing extremism. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/27/russian-restaurant-chain-asks-prosecutors-to-investigate-male-state-donors-for-financing-extremism
Lydia Medvedeva, who lives in Russia's Astrakhan region, successfully sued a district hospital for one million rubles ($14,300) over the death of her husband from COVID-19. On October 18, the Astrakhan Regional Court ruled that by belatedly testing Medvedeva's husband for the coronavirus, the hospital failed to provide him with adequate medical care. Medvedeva's husband died in June 2020, less than 10 days after he first visited the hospital complaining of a cough and chest pain. According to Lydia Medvedeva's lawyer, this isn't the first time a Russian court has ordered a hospital to pay compensation due to the death of a coronavirus patient. However, compensation amounts are typically much smaller. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/25/an-important-precedent
For several months, popular bloggers and major media outlets, including state-owned publications, have been talking about a plan titled "20 Ideas for the Development of Russia." The program is authored by a certain "Dmitry Davydov" -- but it's unclear who this person actually is. Indeed, some doubt he even exists. In a new investigation, BBC News Russian journalist Andrey Zakharov tries to figure out who's behind the program and how they managed to pay for what appears to be a massive advertising campaign. Meduza summarizes his findings here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/25/20-ideas
A new project from Tayga.info, titled "An Encyclopedia of Violence in the Prisons and Pretrial Detention Centers of the Irkutsk Region," examines a protest by inmates at Prison Number 15 in April 2020 and its consequences. That incident began when several prisoners slit their own wrists in a demonstration against alleged abuse by administrators. Several maintenance buildings and the prison's front office soon went up in flames. The protests continued for roughly a day until the Federal Penitentiary Service dispatched special forces who brutally suppressed the uprising. According to Tayga.info, hundreds of inmates may have been raped and beaten at detention facilities throughout the region in the protest's aftermath. One of the felony investigations into these assaults became the most sweeping criminal case in Russian history, encompassing at least 18 victims. That probe is still underway. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/27/everything-except-bodies
Russian investigators have allegedly opened two new criminal cases against jailed former Khabarovsk Krai Governor Sergey Furgal -- one for fraud and another for organizing a criminal community. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/22/jailed-ex-governor-sergey-furgal-reportedly-facing-two-new-criminal-charges
Moldova's energy crisis has prompted parliament to approve the introduction of a state of emergency, the state news agency Moldpres reported on Friday, October 22. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/22/moldova-declares-state-of-emergency-over-energy-crisis-amid-negotiations-with-gazprom
Alexey Navalny's dramatic return to Moscow and immediate imprisonment was more than eight months ago. The anti-Kremlin opposition leader currently occupies a cell at a penitentiary in the Vladimir region. From here, he's watched the authorities systematically outlaw and dismantle his nationwide network of political campaign offices and the domestic infrastructure of the Anti-Corruption Foundation. Yet his core team has continued to operate. In 2021, the group's biggest project was a strategic voting initiative in Russia's September parliamentary elections that provoked the authorities' fierce resistance. In a new letter addressed to his colleagues and supporters (obtained by Meduza), Navalny says he's now ready to assess the past few months. Divided into six main points, the text is a mission statement where Navalny interprets the election results, appraises the effectiveness of the Smart Vote project, and outlines the movement's future. Meduza summarizes the letter below. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/13/we-ve-created-a-majority
In early October, the human rights group Gulagu.net (Not to the Gulag) released several video clips that show incidents of physical and sexual abuse in Russian prisons. According to the Gulagu.net founder Vladimir Osechkin, these videos were just a fraction of a 40-gigabyte "archive" leaked to human rights activists by a former inmate (apparently the group has received more videos since then). Though prisoners themselves are sometimes involved in committing these abuses, Osechkin believes that this is part of a single, centralized system created with the knowledge of Russia's prison authority (the Federal Penitentiary Service or FSIN). For expert insight into what's fueling the rampant abuse in Russia's prison system, Meduza turned to Igor Kalyapin, the chairman of the Committee Against Torture. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/13/this-isn-t-staged-footage
On September 28, 1991, the Tushino Airfield in Moscow hosted the Monsters of Rock international music festival. AC/DC, Metallica, the Black Crowes, and Pantera all performed, while the metal band Electro Shock Therapy represented the Soviet Union. The event attracted a crowd of more than 500,000 people, making it the largest rock concert in the history of both the USSR and the Russian Federation. There were also violent clashes between the public, the police, and even the military, which was summoned from neighboring areas to maintain order. Journalist Alexander Morsin gathered accounts from the festival's organizers and headliners and tracked down what was written abroad about the event in its glorious aftermath. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/14/30-years-since-moscow-s-monsters-of-rock
Russia's Far East has traditionally been considered LDPR country: in the 2016 State Duma election, the party came in second only to United Russia in every region of the Far Eastern Federal District except Yakutia, where it shared second place with KPRF. Five years ago, LDPR won between 20-30 percent of the vote in the Far East, compared to its average 13 percent throughout the country, and won a similar share of the vote in local legislative elections. In 2021, however, the right-wing Liberal Democrats lost their status as the Far East's main opposition force, winning only half as many votes as in the previous election, and in some places only a third. This year, it was the Communists who embodied the protest vote. While KPRF received 7-18 percent of the vote throughout the Far East in the 2016 State Duma elections, they received 12-35 percent this time around (more than 20 percent in most regions). United Russia still won in districts throughout the region, albeit on shaky ground, but the Communists are confident voters supported them not only as an act of protest but also for ideological reasons -- and they're determined to take their success further. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/14/the-red-east
On Monday, October 18, the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Court outlawed the far-right hate group "Male State" as an extremist organization. This movement, called "Muzhskoe Gosudarstvo" in Russian, is linked to a number of VKontakte groups and Telegram channels that proclaim an ideology described as "national patriarchy." Its founder, Vladislav Pozdnyakov, was handed a two-year suspended sentence in 2018 for inciting hatred against women (his sentence was overturned three months later, after which he left Russia). Over the past few years, Male State supporters have threatened LGBTQ+ activists, harassed feminists, and attacked brands for promoting tolerance and diversity in their ad campaigns. Meduza shares a dispatch from the trial that banned Male State's activities in Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/19/on-the-basis-of-sex
Two years ago, Meduza wrote about Alina Shcheglova, a journalist in Veliky Novgorod who came forward about being raped by local newspaper editor-in-chief Mikhail Bogolyubov. She sought publicity for her case after filing charges privately and realizing that police would ignore the attack without public pressure. For the past two years, Shcheglova has testified in courtrooms that Bogolyubov sexually assaulted her, while his lawyers blamed her for the incident, arguing that she never resisted Bogolyubov's advances, claiming that she delayed going to the police, and characterizing her as a "promiscuous" woman. On September 30, 2021, the Novgorod Regional Court upheld Bogolyubov's April 2021 conviction by a district court, sustaining his four-year prison sentence. Meduza special correspondent Irina Kravtsova, who wrote about Alina Shcheglova two years ago, sat down with her to talk about the case, whether she regrets speaking out, and how the whole ordeal has changed her. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/18/i-hope-this-stigma-stays-with-him-for-life
Since his arrest on treason charges in July 2020, Ivan Safronov -- a former journalist and advisor to the head of Russia's space agency -- has been in custody in Moscow's Lefortovo remand prison. This entire time, he hasn't been allowed a single visit from family members or even a phone call. In July, Safronov told his lawyers that he was offered a phone call with his mother in exchange for a confession -- this proposal was put forward by Alexander Chaban, the FSB investigator leading Safronov's case. Safronov refused and, as a result, has only been able to communicate with his family through letters and, sometimes, at court hearings (though these proceedings take place behind closed doors, relatives are usually allowed to enter the courtroom for a few minutes during recesses). Last Friday, October 15, BBC News Russian reported that on orders from investigator Chaban, Safronov had been stripped of his right to send and receive correspondence. For Meduza, Safronov's lawyer Evgeny Smirnov explains the logic and the legality of this decision. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/18/the-investigation-is-very-afraid
Spokespeople for Russia's National Guard deny it, and the veteran founder of a special troops unit says it never happened, but questions linger after Komsomolskaya Pravda war correspondent Alexander Kots reported late on October 17 that some "Vityaz" soldiers removed their crimson berets in protest against supposed favoritism shown to Chechen competitors. The allegations, which stoke tensions going back to Russia's Chechen War and highlight potential divisions within Russia's security elite, have provoked vehement repudiations. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/19/are-you-ashamed-to-wear-it
Alexander Bastrykin, the head of Russia's Federal Investigative Committee, has had enough. He's had enough of youngsters and enough of "shoving" by Asians, Kyrgyz, and Tajiks, and now he's lost his patience with all the people from Krasnodar "flooding" into St. Petersburg. Specifically, Bastrykin's latest outburst was directed at Vladislav Megrelov, a 26-year-old detective based in the town of Vsevolozhsk, outside Petersburg. In a virtual meeting on October 13, the Investigative Committee's director called for Megrelov's head, saying he should be fired for supposedly bungling a case. The detective's colleagues have reportedly vowed to resign in protest if the agency follows through on Bastrykin's threats to fire him. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/19/they-re-flooding-the-city
Back in September, Sochi's 2021 Kinotavr Film Festival opened with a screening of a new documentary about the late Russian actor Sergey Bodrov Jr. (the film's wider release took place on October 7). Written and directed by Russian journalist and film critic Peter Shepotinnik, the documentary tells Bodrov Jr.'s story in an unexpected way: his friends and colleagues paint an optimistic picture of his life, interwoven with that of Alexey Balabanov, the director behind the cult films Brother and Brother 2. The documentary also features original piano compositions by Russian singer and songwriter Vyacheslav Butusov, who not only appeared in Brother but also wrote the music for the film. For Meduza, film critic Anton Dolin describes his impressions from the documentary's premiere. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/19/the-art-of-memory
On Monday evening, October 18, reports emerged that police officers had broken into a women's shelter in Kazan in search of two young women from Dagestan. The alleged officers took the women from the shelter, along with a small child, and handed them over to their relatives. On Tuesday, the father of one of the women told journalists that they had both decided to return home of their own free will. In turn, regional police officials said they were conducting a check due to abduction allegations lodged against "people in police uniforms." According to human rights activists, the two, twenty-year-old women in question -- identified as Aishat Saygidguseynova and Patimat Saygitova -- had been in contact with them for a year, seeking help escaping abusive marriages. Meduza breaks down what we know about the incident so far. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/20/this-is-already-a-tradition
Thanks to a source familiar with the case materials, Forbes Russia published a scoop on the high-profile investigation targeting Marina Rakova, Russia's ex-deputy education minister, and Sergey Zuyev, the rector of the Moscow School for the Social and Economic Sciences ("Shaninka"). The two defendants stand accused of fraud and embezzlement of state funds that the Education Ministry's Foundation for New Forms of Education Development (FNFRO) -- formerly headed by Rakova -- paid to Shaninka as a subcontractor under two separate contracts. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/20/not-up-to-snuff
Andrey Trubnikov, who founded the cosmetics company Natura Siberica, was called a tyrant, a genius, a provocateur, and a visionary -- all epithets that he eagerly embraced. Trubnikov frequently repeated that he couldn't stand business plans, he didn't make budgets, he didn't work with marketing consultants, and he based all his decisions on his own intuition. "Chaos is the highest form of order," he told Forbes, quoting Nietzche to describe his work style (in what turned out to be his last interview). In the months since his death in January of this year, it's become apparent that Trubnikov was the only person capable of controlling this chaos; Natura Siberica is rapidly falling apart. Meduza special correspondent Anastasia Yakoreva takes a look at the people who inherited the company -- and assesses its prospects for survival. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/21/organized-chaos
October 20 marks exactly seven years since Meduza's launch. And October 23 will mark six months since our newsroom was labeled a "foreign agent." We at Meduza consider this status discriminatory and unlawful -- and we've strived to draw our readers' attention to the impact of ending up on Russia's "foreign agent" registry. In this endeavor, we've had the help of many contemporary artists. Most recently, a well-known, international fashion photographer who goes by the pseudonym Zoi shot photos of Meduza's "foreign agent" merch. Meduza employees and their friends also took part in the shoot. Here are the results. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/20/moving-the-needle
In Russia's southwestern city of Bryansk, on Wednesday, October 20, a court handed down the first verdict in the case against the creators of the online gambling company 1xBet. The court sentenced a local woman to three years in prison and an 800,000-ruble ($11,200) fine for "unlawfully organizing gambling," according to a press release from regional investigators. However, the accused was granted a respite, because she has a child under the age of 14. Local reporters from Bryansk.news identified the defendant as Olesya Mospanova, the manager of Bookmaker Pub -- a network of bookies in Bryansk. According to investigators, Mospanova allegedly accepted cash from clients and allowed them to place sports bets through the website 1xBet, whose activities are outlawed in Russia. Investigators estimate that the scheme pulled in 63 billion rubles (nearly $886 million) in illegal income -- a sum that's greater than the Bryansk region's annual budget. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/21/betting-on-bryansk
As announced by President Vladimir Putin, Russia is to have paid "non-working days" from October 30 to November 7. This decision came against the backdrop of the record-breaking daily numbers of coronavirus cases and fatalities seen in October. Federal officials warn that the epidemiological situation is getting worse countrywide. The Moscow authorities are opting to go into a partial lockdown beginning on October 28 and plan to keep certain restrictions in place after the "non-working" period ends. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/21/cause-for-particular-concern
During a public conference with Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dmitry Muratov complained that Russia's "foreign agent" legislation is enforced "extrajudicially," prompting the president's latest comparison to the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in the United States, which the Kremlin (inaccurately) calls "analogous." Putin went on to argue that FARA is even harsher legislation than the regulations Russia recently began imposing on so-called "foreign agents." Notably, the president claimed that "foreign agents" risk felony charges in the U.S. but not in Russia. Mr. Putin is mistaken. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/22/putin-is-wrong
Latvian police have opened a criminal case over a tweet posted by an assistant to a member of parliament, reports the news site Delfi. The tweet, which has since been deleted, said: "The more Russian speakers die, the better for the Latvian language." It was authored by Selma Levrence, a well-known activist from the youth wing of the Latvian social-democratic party The Progressives, who works as an aide to parliamentarian Mara Micerevska. The criminal proceedings were initiated upon the application of another lawmaker. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/22/we-need-to-save-lives
The independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta claims to have uncovered a scheme in which Moscow police are fabricating dozens of misdemeanor charges, in order to implicate the accused in more serious criminal cases. As a rule, the alleged scheme appears to target migrants, who are picked up by police for petty offenses, jailed, and later indicted on felony charges -- usually, for alleged terrorism. Novaya Gazeta's journalists identified 11 cases that follow the same pattern, along with five defendants who are already serving time in prison as a result. Though this investigation was only based on data from court rulings in Moscow, Novaya Gazeta plans to continue its reporting, in order to determine if similar schemes are taking place in other parts of the country. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/22/no-one-catches-terrorists-like-that
Sergey Zuyev, the rector of the Moscow School for the Social and Economic Sciences ("Shaninka"), was detained in connection with the fraud case against Russia's former deputy education minister Marina Rakova, two sources told Meduza on Tuesday, October 12. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/12/shaninka-university-rector-sergey-zuyev-detained-in-connection-with-fraud-case
In the Siberian city of Yakutsk on October 12, Russia's censorship agency (Roskomnadzor) summoned Stepan Petrov, the head of the public organization "Yakutia -- Our Opinion," and charged him with a misdemeanor for failing to fulfil "foreign agent" requirements. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/12/russian-censor-draws-up-first-misdemeanors-against-individuals-for-violating-foreign-agent-requirements
Under pressure because of a joke from last year about ethnic Ossetians, stand-up comedienne Ariana Lolaeva has now apologized twice in tearful messages on social media. The apologies follow a video from a "Roast Battle" in 2020 that started spreading in North Ossetian online groups on October 9, 2021. In the footage, fellow comic Alexander Ni tells Lolaeva that she has "Ossetian pie between her thighs." As the news outlet Baza explains, this dish has specifical significance for Ossetians particularly because it's associated with the "rite of the three pies," which according to some versions symbolizes God, the Sun, and the Earth. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/12/after-losing-job-and-friends-stand-up-comedienne-apologizes-again-this-time-in-tears-for-upsetting-cultural-conservatives-in-north-ossetia
Russian police investigators questioned socialite and television host Ksenia Sobchak on Tuesday, October 12, as part of a criminal case launched over a fatal car accident near Sochi, the Interior Ministry's press center told Interfax. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/12/russian-police-interrogate-ksenia-sobchak-in-connection-with-fatal-car-crash-near-sochi
Gulagu.net (No to the Gulag) founder Vladimir Osechkin says the human rights project has received another leaked archive of videos evidencing the torture and abuse of inmates in Russian prisons. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/13/human-rights-activists-report-another-video-leak-evidencing-abuse-in-russian-prisons
Biologist Olga Shchegoleva uses her scientific training to educate adults about sex. In addition to being involved in "Ne Stidno" ("Not Ashamed") -- a project that teaches parents how to talk to their children about sex, -- she's also a member of the expert community "Seksprosvet 18+" ("SexEd 18+"). And for the past year and a half, she's been running her own Instagram blog dedicated to sex education. Unfortunately, this passion project recently lost Olga Shchegoleva her day job as a biology teacher at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory. According to the local newspaper Fontanka, Shchegoleva was forced to resign after parents complained to the school about her blog and the administration gave her an ultimatum. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/12/let-s-not-talk-about-sex-baby
Belarusian journalist Gennady Mozheiko has been in custody for more than ten days. A longtime reporter for the recently shuttered Belarusian edition of the Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, Mozheiko was arrested in early October after publishing an article about a deadly shootout between an IT worker and security forces in Minsk. The article was only online for a few minutes before the publication took it down to "avoid conflicts." Nevertheless, in the days that followed, the Belarusian authorities blocked the website of Komsomolskaya Pravda in Belarus (citing national security reasons) and took Genady Mozheiko into custody. On October 11, Komsomolskaya Pravda surmised that because Mozheiko hadn't been released, he must have been indicted on charges of "inciting social hatred or discord" and "insulting a government official." Under Belarusian law, these felonies are punishable by up to 12 years in prison. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/12/it-s-just-madness
On Tuesday, October 12, the new convocation of Russia's State Duma convened for its first session. Roughly a fifth of all lawmakers -- 88 of 450 deputies -- received their seats from higher-ranked candidates on party lists, winning the jobs because others didn't want them. The candidates who decided against joining the parliament include four of the five figures who led United Russia's federal list, 50 governors, many regional deputies, several famous actors and athletes, and multiple public sector managers. Nine of the Duma's seats weren't filled until the winning candidate and the next two people on the party list all declined. Another three seats passed from hand to hand four times, and one spot didn't find a willing recipient until round five. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/13/hot-potato
Dmitry Muratov, the editor-in-chief of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, has won this year's Nobel Peace Prize, sharing the award with Maria Ressa, the CEO of Rappler, a news outlet critical of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's anti-drug campaign. Ressa and Muratov were honored "for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and Russia." The Norwegian Nobel Committee credited Ressa with "using freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence, and growing authoritarianism in the Philippines" and recognized Muratov for "decades [of defending] freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions." "They are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions," the Nobel Committee explained in its prize announcement. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/09/russia-s-first-post-soviet-peace-prize-winner
Just 8 percent of Russians know of and support Alexey Navalny's "Smart Vote" initiative, according to the results of a survey conducted by the independent Levada Center at the end of September. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/08/levada-center-less-than-10-percent-of-russians-support-navalny-s-smart-vote-initiative
The Russian Justice Ministry added nine more individuals and three organizations to its "foreign agent" registry on Friday, October 8, just hours after Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov was awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/08/hours-after-russian-journalist-wins-nobel-peace-prize-russia-designates-nine-more-journalists-plus-bellingcat-as-foreign-agents
Especially where kids are involved, divorce can be a harrowing experience. Few manage to get along with a former spouse as well as Russian Deputy Justice Minister Oleg Sviridenko, who reportedly fathered two children with his ex-wife, dancer Natalia Poluichik, after their marriage officially ended in 1999. According to a new report by the investigative website Agentstvo, Sviridenko's divorce was a legal scheme to conceal the couple's wealth. On social media, Poluichik has shared photographs showing her together with Sviridenko, where she refers to herself by her married surname. Adding irony to its discovery, Agentstvo identifies Oleg Sviridenko as the "curator" of the Russian Justice Ministry's war against "foreign agents." Meduza summarizes the report's findings. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/06/fighting-from-the-french-riviera
Alexander Bastrykin, the head of Russia's Federal Investigative Committee, waded into an incident this week that is stoking ethnic tensions in Moscow. Bastrykin awarded the Valor and Courage medal to a 25-year-old man whom three assailants brutally attacked after he defended a woman they were harassing on the subway. "Despite being outnumbered, he did not stand aside. He stood up for the young woman. Without entering into a conflict, he made a remark for which this aggressive group of men beat him severely," Bastrykin said in an announcement. The attack on Roman Kovalev occurred on the evening of October 4 between Moscow's Izmailovskaya and Pervomayskaya subway stations. Video of three men stomping on Kovalev's head circulated widely on Russian social media, generating substantial controversy, particularly because the victim is an ethnic Russian man and the assailants are from the North Caucasian Republic of Dagestan. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/07/three-against-one
The popular Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda is shutting down its branch in Belarus. In an editorial published on Tuesday, October 5, the newspaper explained that this decision was made upon considering "the events of the past year and especially the past week." Komsomolskaya Pravda said that all of the staff from its Belarusian edition would be offered compensation or jobs in other branches of the company. A week earlier, the website Komsomolskaya Pravda in Belarus was blocked after the tabloid published an article about Andrey Zeltsar, an IT worker who was involved in a shootout with security forces in Minsk on September 28. The reporter who authored the article, Gennady Mozheiko, was arrested on charges of inciting hatred and insulting a government official. He is currently in custody at the Okrestina Street detention center in Minsk. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/06/the-only-correct-decision
After 30 years spent defending the legal rights of Russian conscripts and soldiers, the NGO "Soldiers' Mothers of St. Petersburg" will no longer be working with military personnel. In a statement published on October 5, the organization said that a new order issued by the Federal Security Service (FSB) has rendered most of its operations impossible. Indeed, the new order includes a list of topics -- many of which concern the military -- that you can't collect information on without risking a "foreign agent" designation or even felony charges. That said, Soldiers' Mothers isn't shutting its doors completely. To find out more about how the NGO plans to move forward, Meduza spoke to its chairperson, Oksana Paramonova. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/07/the-state-isn-t-interested
The Russian State Duma is set to consider a new draft law aimed at lifting the two-term limit for the heads of Russia's regions. This piece of legislation is almost certain to make it through parliament. Moreover, it will give the president more power to influence regional leaders, allowing him to reprimand them, issue warnings for poor performance, and, eventually, fire them (that said, a similar "no confidence" mechanism exists already). Regional leaders will also be given standardized titles, meaning positions like the "President of Tatarstan" will have to be renamed. What is the point of all these changes? Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev explains. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/08/resets-for-the-right-people
In late September, the Russian authorities designated the Ivanovo Center for Gender Studies as a "foreign agent." The labeling wasn't random but part of a coordinated state policy to undermine this relatively new research field. At Meduza's request, University College London School of Slavonic and East European Studies doctoral student and feminist activist Ella Rossman explains how gender studies emerged in the USSR and how scholars have fought for its survival in contemporary Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/08/neglected-and-then-persecuted
Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov and Philippines journalist Maria Ressa were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2021. In the words of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, the two journalists were given the award "for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace." Muratov, who is the editor-in-chief of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, spoke with Meduza special correspondent Svetlana Reiter shortly after the announcement. Here's what he had to say. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/08/this-prize-belongs-to-my-lost-colleagues
Russia's Justice Ministry has developed a habit of announcing "foreign agent" designations on Friday evenings. October 8 was no exception. The Justice Ministry announced a total of 12 additions to the list: nine individuals and three media organizations (including the investigative project Bellingcat). Current Time TV correspondent Elizaveta Surnacheva, the former deputy editor-in-chief of the investigative outlet Proekt, is among the journalists who were blacklisted. In her own words, she tells Meduza how she received the news. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/08/this-is-because-of-proekt
The number of coronavirus cases in Russia this fall is three times higher than during the same period last year, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova said during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday October 5. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/05/number-of-coronavirus-cases-is-russia-is-three-times-higher-than-same-period-last-year
The Nizhny Novgorod Prosecutor's Office filed a lawsuit with the regional court seeking to ban the far-right hate group "Male State" (Muzhskoe Gosudarstvo in Russian). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/05/nizhny-novgorod-prosecutors-seek-to-ban-far-right-hate-group-male-state
Maxim Ivankin, a prisoner in the "Network" terrorism case, has been charged in connection with the 2017 murders of Ekaterina Levchenko and Artyom Dorofeyev, Novaya Gazeta reported on Tuesday, October 5. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/05/penza-network-case-prisoner-maxim-ivankin-charged-with-murder-claims-he-confessed-under-torture
"New People" is the first new party to win seats in Russia's State Duma in years; as a result, the parliament now consists of five factions instead of the usual four. The party's approval ratings suddenly began to rise around the end of campaign season, despite the fact that nobody with much name recognition was on the party's ticket -- with the exception of the party's founder, businessman Alexey Nechayev, and former head of Yakutsk Sardana Avksentyeva (who's fairly famous at the federal level). New People's faction in parliament consists of 13 people -- enough, in the words of Nechayev himself, to "shake up the State Duma." Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev reports on the new party's origins, the role the Kovalchuk brothers play in it, and how a completely inexperienced political organization managed to outflank its opponents. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/05/nechayev-money-kovalchuk-brains
For its October issue, the fashion magazine Elle Russia published 25 covers with the headlines "Friendship of Peoples" and "Elle Without Borders." The project was shot in various locations across Russia and the former Soviet Union, using local models and photographers. In the issue, Elle writes about the 25 different cultures and peoples featured on the covers -- some of the articles are even in local languages. "It's too bad that a frame has its own boundaries and it doesn't fit all of the participants in [this shoot], the residents of the mountain village of Itum-Kali in Chechnya," Elle Russia editor-in-chief Ekaterina Mukhina commented in an Instagram post. "These are people of the same fire, where they love, make friends, celebrate, and dance with their entire family, with their own -- giving them all of their hearts." At the same time, some of the covers featured on Elle Russia's Instagram account generated controversy, particularly the one shot in Ukraine. Meduza shares a few of the covers from the October issue here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/05/friendship-of-peoples
The human rights project Gulagu.net (No to the Gulag) reported on Tuesday that it had obtained more than 40 gigabytes of recordings evidencing the physical and sexual abuse of inmates in Russian prisons. The group also published three video clips that allegedly show security officials abusing inmates at a prison hospital in the Saratov region. Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) responded by launching an internal investigation and the Attorney General's Office launched its own inquiry, as well. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that if the recordings are deemed authentic, they will be "cause for serious proceedings." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/05/a-secret-special-forces-archive
On Monday morning, October 4, Russia's anti-coronavirus headquarters reported that 25,781 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the past 24 hours. This is the highest daily increase the country has seen since January 2, 2021, when Russia reported 26,301 new coronavirus cases. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/04/russia-records-highest-daily-increase-in-coronavirus-cases-since-january-2021
The Russian Supreme Court ruled on Monday, October 4, that election officials unlawfully rejected a former Navalny staffer's application to open an electoral account for collecting signatures for nomination to the State Duma. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/04/russian-supreme-court-rules-that-ex-navalny-staffer-was-unlawfully-barred-from-seeking-election-nomination
On Monday, October 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed United Russia lawmaker Alexander Avdeev as the acting governor of the Vladimir Region. Before entering the State Duma, Avdeev was the mayor of Obninsk, a city in the Kaluga Region. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/04/putin-appoints-new-acting-governors-of-the-vladimir-and-tambov-regions
Communist Party (KPRF) leader Gennady Zyuganov wrote an open letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin protesting the detention of KPRF members following rallies in Moscow on September 20 and 25. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/04/communist-party-leader-gennady-zyuganov-pens-open-letter-to-putin-over-police-persecution
On Sunday, October 3, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) published The Pandora Papers, an investigation involving more than 600 journalists from 150 media partners across 117 countries -- including reporters from the Russian investigative outlet iStories. The ICIJ obtained close to 12 million files (nearly three terabytes of documents) from 14 companies that provide offshore services. This massive data leak is even bigger than the Panama Papers, which contained documents from just one law firm. The ICIJ and its partners spent nearly two years combing through the documents and have thus provided an unprecedented look inside the offshore finance industry and its global reach. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/04/inside-the-pandora-papers
A court in Moscow has sentenced Marxist theoretician and sociologist Boris Kagarlitsky to 10 days in jail for sharing content on social media promoting unpermitted protests by the Communist Party (KPRF) against the results of Russia's recent parliamentary elections. Police arrested Kagarlitsky on Wednesday on his way to the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences, where he is a lecturer. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/30/moscow-court-jails-marxist-theoretician-for-10-days-for-promoting-communist-party-protests-against-parliamentary-election-results
Roman Dobrokhotov, the editor-in-chief of The Insider, has responded to new criminal charges that he allegedly crossed the Russian border illegally. The criminal case "was conjured out of thin air," he argued in an editorial published by The Insider, asserting that he was within his rights when he left the country in August, weeks after federal agents raided his home and interrogated his parents. Russian officials seized his international passport at the time, but Dobrokhotov says he maintains his general civil passport. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/30/russian-journalist-acknowledges-emigration-denounces-new-felony-charges-as-effort-to-silence-his-investigative-reporting
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that Russia must not deport migrant rights activist Valentina Chupik to Uzbekistan until at least October 17. Chupik, who is an Uzbek citizen, has been in custody at an immigration detention center at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since September 25. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/01/echr-suspends-human-rights-activist-s-deportation-from-russia
The Federal Security Service (FSB) released a new list of information that "could be used to threaten the security of the Russian Federation." Though the list doesn't concern state secrets, collecting any information included in the new order carries the threat of a "foreign agent" designation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/01/russian-fsb-approves-new-list-of-information-that-could-pose-national-security-threat
Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili was arrested upon returning to the country on Friday, September 1, Interfax reported. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/10/01/ex-president-mikheil-saakashvili-arrested-upon-returning-to-georgia
At a United Russia congress ten years ago, on September 24, 2011, it was announced that Vladimir Putin -- after four years as prime minister -- would be running for president once again. As for then-President Dmitry Medvedev, he would be heading up the ruling party's list for the State Duma elections. This switch was quickly termed "castling" -- as in the eponymous chess move, the country's two top dogs would simply swap places. Since then, Dmitry Medvedev and his political influence have faded into the shadows. This has been a great loss for the RuNet. Indeed, there was once a time when Dmitry Medvedev's antics dominated Russian meme culture. Meduza takes a nostalgic look back at this golden age. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/28/relax-this-is-russia
Moscow's Public Election Monitoring Committee is auditing the results of local remote electronic voting (DEG) during Russia's recent State Duma elections. The review (not to be confused with a formal recount that carries legal weight) is a rare response to fraud allegations from opposition candidates who lost narrowly after electronic votes were added to the final results. The monitoring committee has defended the elections' legitimacy and hopes an audit will raise confidence in electronic voting, which federal officials plan to expand in future elections. The effort, however, is unlikely to persuade opposition politicians and experts in blockchain technology (which is the basis for Russia's DEG system) who say online voting is a "black box" that the authorities' control completely. Since the polls closed in Moscow, mathematicians, political scientists, and economists have debated the merits of election fraud allegations. Meduza breaks down these arguments. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/29/stop-the-steal-rock-the-vote
Ilya Sachkov, the co-founder and CEO of the cybersecurity company Group-IB, was arrested in Moscow on suspicion of treason. On Wednesday morning, Moscow's Lefortovo Court jailed him for two months pending trial. A day earlier, police raided the company's Moscow headquarters -- spokespeople said the search ended in the evening, but according to RTVi, men in masks and camouflage uniforms were still on duty near the office overnight. Kommersant reported that the office resumed work as usual on Wednesday morning. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/29/nothing-to-do-with-business
The Russian capital is seeing a spike in coronavirus cases once again. Accordingly, the number of hospitalizations is also on the rise. Though the current situation hardly compares to the peak of "third wave" seen over the summer, Meduza's sources say Moscow officials are mulling over plans to reintroduce tighter public health measures. Several major shopping center have already been issued warnings for turning a blind eye to patrons and sales staff ignoring mask requirements. With this in mind, businesses -- and restaurants in particular -- are bracing themselves for the return of tougher restrictions. However, restaurant owners also expect that the authorities will hold off as long as they possibly can, for fear of having to hand out subsidies. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/29/there-are-lines-of-ambulances-again
The Russian Justice Ministry went on a 'foreign agent' designation spree on the evening of Wednesday, September 29. The agency blacklisted more than 20 individuals, as well as the independent rights watchdog OVD-Info and the news outlet Mediazona, which was founded by members of Pussy Riot and reports on Russia's judicial, law enforcement, and penal system. The Justice Ministry's "foreign-agent media" registry now includes 72 entries. Meduza introduces the list's latest additions here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/29/the-list-grows-longer
St. Petersburg registered 2,281 coronavirus cases on Friday, October 1 -- the highest daily increase since January 2021. The city also recorded 55 deaths due to COVID-19 and 450 hospitalizations. The day before, St. Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov warned that "If we don't obtain collective immunity, [additional] restrictions will have to be introduced." According to medical workers, local coronavirus hospitals are already feeling overwhelmed. Meanwhile, the Russian Health Ministry has raised the city's vaccination target to 3.5 million people. But if vaccination continues at its current rate, this goal won't be met until the end of next summer. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/01/the-wave-after-the-wave
Russia's former deputy education minister Marina Rakova was charged with fraud in absentia and put on a wanted list, Interior Ministry spokesperson Irina Volk confirmed to TASS on Friday, October 1. Rakova, who is currently Sberbank's vice president, reportedly stands accused of embezzling 50 million rubles ($688,000) in state funds when she worked for the Education Ministry in 2019. Citing a source in law enforcement, TASS reported that Russian investigators are working to verify reports that Rakova may have left the country for Ukraine. Sources also say detectives plan to ask a court to arrest Rakova in absentia. On Thursday, a Moscow court has jailed three other suspects in connection with the case. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/10/01/she-absconded-from-the-investigation
The Russian State Duma is set to consider a bill that would lift restrictions on the heads of regions being elected for more than two consecutive terms, reports RIA Novosti. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/27/russian-state-duma-to-consider-bill-allowing-regional-heads-to-be-elected-for-more-than-two-consecutive-terms
The Wagner private military company (PMC) is in the process of recruiting new mercenaries, who will presumably be sent to Mali, reports BBC News Russian. However, the PMC is allegedly no longer accepting recruits from the Russian-backed separatist territories in eastern Ukraine or from annexed Crimea. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/27/wagner-pmc-no-longer-accepting-recruits-from-eastern-ukraine-and-crimea-reports-russian-bbc
The founder of the liberal opposition party Yabloko, Grigory Yavlinsky, was hospitalized in Moscow "due to heart problems," Interfax reported on Monday, September 27. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/27/yabloko-s-grigory-yavlinsky-hospitalized-due-to-heart-problems
The Russian Attorney General's Office declared the activities of the European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) "undesirable" in Russia. "The reason for this decision was that the activities of ENEMO pose a threat to the foundations of the constitutional order and security of the Russian Federation," the Attorney General's Office said in a statement on Monday, September 27. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/27/russia-declares-european-network-of-election-monitoring-organizations-undesirable
On Monday, September 27, police officers in the Moscow region raided the home of migrant rights defender Valentina Chupik, the head of the nonprofit organization Tong Jahoni. Chupik, who is a citizen of Uzbekistan, has been in custody at an immigration detention center at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport since September 25. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/27/russian-police-raid-home-of-detained-migrant-rights-defender-valentina-chupik
On September 25, a funeral was held in Perm for Sergey Sarapultsev, the late chief of the Perm Krai Investigative Department (the regional branch of the Russian Investigative Committee). Reports about Sarapultsev's death emerged two days earlier. According to unoffical sources, Sarapultsev died by suicide. The news site VKurse reported that he was found dead at his cottage by his driver. And according to the online outlet Life, his body showed signs of strangulation. The Investigative Committee only confirmed that an investigation had been launched into the cause of death. At the funeral, Sarapultsev's widow said that her late husband "served until the end" and that "something inside him broke" after the university shooting in Perm, which took place just days before his death. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/27/we-couldn-t-help-him-in-time
The day after the elections to Russia's State Duma, the Communist Party (KPRF) rallied around 200 protesters in downtown Moscow. The Communists refused to recognize the online voting results in the capital, accusing the authorities of falsifying the electronic ballot count. The KPRF is set to hold another rally on Saturday, September 25, under the slogan "For Fair Elections." However, Meduza's sources say the party's top brass isn't planning to challenge the election results as a whole. Instead, party leader Gennady Zyuganov is allegedly trying to bargain with the Kremlin, in a supposed bid to secure influential positions within the State Duma for Communist Party members. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/24/for-fair-elections
Russia recorded 828 coronavirus-related deaths in the last 24 hours, marking a new pandemic record, the government's anti-coronavirus headquarters reported on Friday, September 24. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/24/russia-reports-new-pandemic-record-for-daily-coronavirus-deaths
Russia's federal censor sent a notice to the Communist Party (KPRF) warning that its website could be blocked over an announcement about an upcoming protest, the party's central committee secretary Sergey Obukhov said on Friday, September 24. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/24/roskomnadzor-threatens-to-block-communist-party-website-over-protest-announcement
During the State Duma elections, Russian passport holders from the Donetsk and Luhansk "People's Republics" -- two unrecognized territories in eastern Ukraine -- cast their ballots in the neighboring Rostov region of Russia. The de facto authorities in the region organized hundreds of buses and a dozen trains to transport voters across the border. Many of the Donbas residents were handed their Russian passports right before they voted -- the buses took them directly to the passport office and then shuttled them to polling stations. At Meduza's request, journalist Gleb Golod traveled to the Matveyevo-Kurgansky district of the Rostov region, where most of the polling stations for Donbas residents were set up. There, he spoke to voters about the candidates they supported, their expectations for the elections, and what they think about the powers that be in Moscow. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/23/we-all-support-putin-tell-your-friends
The graphs below are based on voting results released by Russia's Central Election Commission and compiled by independent analyst Sergey Shpilkin. They demonstrate the relationship between turnout and support for the country's two most popular political parties, United Russia and the Communist Party (KPRF), at individual polling stations nationwide. (The two small blotches at the right end of both charts represent results in Moscow's electronic voting.) Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/23/it-came-from-above
Five climbers died after getting lost in a blizzard on Russia's Mount Elbrus on Thursday, September 23. The group, which consisted of tourists and several professional guides, was at an altitude of 5,400 meters (over 17,700 feet) when weather conditions began to deteriorate severely. Search and rescue workers found the surviving 14 climbers and brought them down the mountain over the course of several hours. All of the survivors were hospitalized and eight of them are in moderately serious condition. Regional investigators announced on Friday that a criminal case has been launched on charges of rendering services that do not meet safety requirements. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/24/the-weather-deteriorated-catastrophically
Elections to local parliaments took place in 39 Russian regions last weekend (September 17-19), at the same time as the elections to the State Duma. In a new report, RBC breaks down how the voting results in these regions changed since the last elections in 2016. Though United Russia won the most votes in all 39 regional parliamentary elections, its victory wasn't as resounding as it was five years ago. By comparison, the Communist Party (KPRF) saw better results at the polls in 34 of the 39 regions. Meduza summarizes the regional election results for each of Russia's main political parties here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/24/turning-red
Roskomnadzor has started to maintain a registry of major social networks, the Russian censorship agency announced on Wednesday, September 22. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/22/russia-s-federal-censor-launches-registry-of-social-media-platforms
Candidates to the State Duma from a variety of political forces announced the creation of a coalition seeking a ban on electronic voting in Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/23/russian-state-duma-candidates-form-coalition-for-the-abolition-of-electronic-voting
The Russian Attorney General's office is seeking to block websites that redistribute content created by Alexey Navalny's outlawed Anti-Corruption Foundation (the FBK). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/23/russian-authorities-seek-to-block-all-websites-that-redistribute-team-navalny-content
Moscow's Election Monitoring Public Committee "didn't uncover traces of hacking and ballot stuffing in electronic voting," said the group's leader, Ekho Moskvy editor-in-chief Alexey Venediktov, on Thursday, September 23. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/23/public-monitors-claim-there-s-no-evidence-of-online-voting-irregularities-in-moscow
Moscow's Election Monitoring Public Committee has instructed its technical team to recount the city's electronic votes in last weekend's parliamentary elections, the group's deputy chairman, Ekho Moskvy radio station editor-in-chief Alexey Venediktov, announced on Wednesday. The decision apparently acknowledges complaints about irregularities in the capital's online voting, though the recount will have no legal force. "It's just a crosscheck," Venediktov explained. Meduza breaks down what this means exactly. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/22/just-a-crosscheck-not-a-recount
A 67-year-old woman was raped and murdered in the village of Buzhaninovo (Moscow region) on September 12. The authorities arrested two migrants from Tajikistan as suspects. The following evening, village residents tried to storm a dormitory that was home to more than 150 migrant workers employed by a local window factory. The next day, the Governor of the Moscow region ordered the eviction of all the migrants living in the dormitory. Buses promptly moved the workers out of Buzhaninovo, whisking them off to an unknown location. Meduza special correspondent Irina Kravtsova traveled to Buzhaninovo, where she witnessed local authorities -- now under intense media scrutiny -- scrambling to save face and put the village in order. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/22/they-re-people-too-you-know
Alexey Navalny's team summed the impact of their "Smart Vote" initiative on the 2021 State Duma elections in a video released on Thursday, September 23. Thanking everyone who participated in the strategic voting initiative, Navalny's chief of staff Leonid Volkov asserted that Smart Vote's main achievement was to "stir up" the authorities' attempts to rig the election. He also called for the annulment of Moscow's electronic voting results and a complete recount of the ballots cast in St. Petersburg. Finally, Volkov said that Team Navalny supports any peaceful protests in response to the election, urging the losing parties and candidates to take the lead and "fight." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/23/we-stirred-up-the-snake-s-nest-nicely
"Patriotic" activist Alexander Ionov sent an appeal to the Russian Attorney General's Office requesting an audit of The Bell's finances and for the news site to be declared a "foreign agent." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/22/activist-alexander-ionov-calls-on-russian-authorities-to-declare-the-bell-a-foreign-agent
On the evening of Monday, September 20, the Communist Party (KPRF) organized a rally in downtown Moscow opposing voting rigging in the State Duma elections. Having been denied permission to hold an authorized protest, the gathering on Pushkin Square was positioned as a meeting with voters. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/20/communist-party-rallies-protesters-in-moscow-after-accusing-russian-authorities-of-vote-rigging
Following three days of voting over the weekend in the nationwide election to the State Duma, Russia's Central Election Commission reported on Tuesday, September 21, that 100 percent of the ballots casted had been processed. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/21/election-officials-declare-a-majority-win-for-united-russia-in-state-duma-vote
The Russian social network VKontakte has blocked at least five pages belonging to individuals who formerly led regional campaign offices for opposition politician Alexey Navalny, reports the Net Freedoms Project. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/21/vkontakte-blocks-several-of-navalny-s-former-campaign-office-leaders
Detectives in the UK have identified a third suspect in the Novichok poisoning attempt on Sergey and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England in May 2018. Metropolitan police named the third suspect as Denis Sergeev, identifying him as a member of the Russian military intelligence service, the GRU. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/21/uk-police-identify-gru-general-as-third-suspect-in-salisbury-novichok-attack
On Monday, September 20, official election results showed that nominal opposition candidates running for the State Duma failed to win in any of Moscow's single-mandate constituencies. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/20/flipping-moscow
On the morning of September 20, Timur Bekmansurov opened fire at a university campus in the Russian city of Perm. The 18-year-old shooter killed six people and injured at least 28 others. He was wounded by police and taken into custody. Meduza interviewed eyewitnesses who were at Perm State University at the time of the attack. In their own words, here's what they saw. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/20/i-saw-students-jumping-from-the-windows
Russia's cultural capital of St. Petersburg has a reputation for "dirty elections" -- one so bad that even Russian election officials can't help but criticize them. And this weekend's voting in the elections to the State Duma and St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly were no exception. Election monitors reported widespread violations, both during the voting period and after the polls closed. What's more, St. Petersburg police carried out detentions and removed election monitors and poll workers from polling stations throughout the weekend. In the end, turnout in the elections was far below the national average, but United Russia's candidates still managed to come out on top. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/20/dishonoring-the-beloved-city
When releasing this week's voting results, Russia's Central Election Commission deliberately withheld statistical information from independent analysts, encoding the data published on its website to prevent researchers from downloading it automatically. The voting figures now available through the commission are "encrypted," meaning that any numbers copied from the website will appear as alphabetic code and randomized characters when pasted into external documents or spreadsheets. Statistician Sergey Shpilkin was one of the first analysts to draw attention to the election commission's "encoded" numbers. A graduate of Moscow State University's physics department and an elections analyst, Shpilkin has spent years downloading and studying data from the Central Election Commission in search of anomalies in Russia's turnout and voting results. Many political scientists and ordinary voters turn to his post-election graphs for objective assessments of falsifications in Russia. Meduza special correspondent Lilia Yapparova spoke to Shpilkin to understand the arms race now underway between independent experts and Russia's election officials. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/20/electronic-voting-must-die
Russia was responsible for the poisoning and assassination of ex-FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled on Tuesday, September 21. Litvinenko fled Russia with his family and was granted asylum in the United Kingdom in 2001. He died of polonium poisoning in London in 2006. Ten years later, a public inquiry in the UK concluded that Litvinenko was murdered by two of his acquaintances: former Russian Secret Service officer Andrey Lugovoy -- who is now a State Duma lawmaker -- and businessman Dmitry Kovtun. Both the suspects, as well a the Russian authorities, have consistently denied any involvement in Litvinenko's killing. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/21/a-strong-prima-facie-case
During the 2020 Tomsk City Duma election, candidates endorsed by Team Navalny's "Smart Vote" initiative won unequivocally. Despite the fact that most of them were previously little-known, Smart Vote-backed candidates won 19 out of the 27 single-mandate constituencies, while candidates from the ruling party, United Russia, won 11 out of 37 seats in the Tomsk City Duma overall. For comparison, in the same electoral race in 2015, United Russia won in 25 constituencies and received 30 seats in the Duma. On the eve of the 2021 elections to the Tomsk City and Regional Dumas, Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev traveled to Tomsk to see how the results of last year's election changed the city's political situation. There, he discovered that the Communist Party had begun using bolder slogans and nominating younger candidates, while United Russia took a new approach, interacting more with voters and even venturing into social media. Meanwhile, the opposition candidates ultimately failed to coordinate on any joint action. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/21/when-it-works
Voting is done in Russia's 2021 parliamentary races, and the results are now clear: United Russia maintained its supermajority, preserving its absolute control over the legislature; the Communist Party (KPRF) performed much better than it did five years ago; and the right-wing Liberal Democrats (LDPR) had one of their worst showings ever. Also, for the first time since Russia introduced party-list proportional representation, there will be a fifth faction: businessman Alexey Nechayev's New People (a group created with the Kremlin's help). As the dust settles, the biggest unresolved questions surround electronic voting -- specifically, how it affected results in and around Moscow, where online tallies catapulted the candidates endorsed by Mayor Sergey Sobyanin to victories against oppositionists who led in offline counts. Meduza's Andrey Pertsev examines what a weekend of voting says about the direction of Russia's legislative politics. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/22/it-s-official
Attention: These observations are based on preliminary results. A lot could still change. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/19/preliminary-results-a-preliminary-forecast
Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza is taking the Russian Investigative Committee to court for allegedly failing to investigate two apparent attempts on his life. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/17/oppositionist-vladimir-kara-murza-sues-russia-s-top-investigative-agency
In a message on Friday evening, Telegram founder Pavel Durov announced that the popular instant messenger is suspending support for all "bots associated with election campaigning" during Russia's parliamentary elections, which began today and conclude on Sunday, September 19. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/18/citing-russia-s-broadcast-moratorium-in-a-blow-to-navalny-s-smart-vote-initiative-telegram-suddenly-suspends-all-bots-associated-with-campaigning
After bowing to censorship demands a day earlier by disabling Russian users' access to Alexey Navalny's mobile app on its app store, Google has ordered Navalny's associates to delete two documents now available on Google Docs that contain lists of election candidates endorsed by Smart Vote, the team's strategic voting initiative meant to consolidate opposition against the political party United Russia. According to a letter shared by Team Navalny on its Telegram channel, Google says the content is illegal in Russia because the URLs to these documents now appear on the federal government's registry of banned resources. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/18/google-orders-team-navalny-to-delete-smart-vote-s-endorsements-from-google-docs
Notoriously uncomfortable with personal computers, President Vladimir Putin voted online on September 17, casting his ballot remotely while in self-isolation, following exposure to COVID-infected colleagues. Footage of Putin voting shows him entering his office and sitting down at a computer where the Web browser is already opened to Russia's electronic voting system. Using a single finger, the Russian president then enters something on the keyboard and the screen flashes the following message: "Thank you. Your vote has been counted." Meduza explains what's wrong with this demonstration. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/17/voting-with-one-finger
Just a few weeks ago, Russia's federal censor blocked the website for Alexey Navalny's voting initiative "Smart Vote." On September 15, Navalny's team went ahead and released their list of recommended candidates regardless, uploading it to a Google Doc. Later that evening, Google Docs became temporarily unavailable inside Russia. On the first day of voting in the State Duma elections, September 17, tech giants Apple and Google caved to pressure from the Russian authorities and pulled Navalny's mobile app from the App Store and Google Play. What's more, Apple disabled its new "Private Relay" feature for users inside Russia. To find out more about whether or not Apple and Google had a choice in these matters -- and what this means for the future of the RuNet -- Meduza spoke to lawyer Sarkis Darbinyan from the digital rights group Roskomsvoboda. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/17/corporate-de-escalation
Mere minutes before midnight on September 18 when the new policy he was announcing would take effect, Telegram founder Pavel Durov published a statement on his personal channel explaining that the network would begin blocking bots "involved in campaigning" in accordance with Russia's "election silence" law. His announcement did not begin with this information; Durov spent the first three paragraphs of his message berating Apple and Google for bowing to Russia's censorship demands. "It's a dangerous precedent," he said, referring to the two American companies' decisions to disable access inside Russia to the Navalny app on their respective app stores. "I've written many times that the Apple and Google oligopoly poses a threat to free speech." After these condemnations and praise for Telegram as "still the freest platform on the Web," Durov got to the core of his announcement. Meduza explains what's wrong with his explanation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/18/the-freest-platform-on-the-web
On Friday, September 17, Moscow's Basmanny District Court jailed suspects Dmitry Chebanov and Nikita Kreshchuk on charges of "inciting mass riots" amid this weekend's State Duma elections. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/17/moscow-court-jails-suspects-from-telegram-network-on-charges-of-inciting-riots-during-elections
On September 14, investigative journalists from iStories identified an alleged Russian Foreign Ministry employee by the name of Svetlana Polyakova as the longtime "female companion" of Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The journalists discovered that several of Polyakova's friends got jobs in branches of the Ministry, while she herself accompanied Lavrov on a number of working trips -- some people even saved her contact information as "Svetlana Lavrova." Building off the iStories investigation, Team Navalny published its own deep-dive into the relationship between Sergey Lavrov and Svetlana Polyakova on September 16. Meduza summarizes their findings here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/17/working-trips
As nationwide voting in Russia got underway and just hours after company representatives met with members of the Federation Council's "Sovereignty Committee," the American tech giants Apple and Google both blocked Russian users' access to Alexey Navalny's mobile app on their online stores, the App Store and Google Play. Still accessible to users outside Russia, the Navalny app was one of the key platforms the imprisoned opposition leader's team hoped to use to disseminate strategic voting recommendations in parliamentary races across the country. Meduza summarizes how the Russian authorities managed to disable the anti-Kremlin opposition's key online mobilization tools, precisely when activists needed them most. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/17/we-know-this-stuff-is-complicated-but
On September 17, voting began across Russia in parliamentary elections that will span three days. These contests are taking place against the backdrop of an unprecedented crackdown on opposition politicians, independent media outlets, and generally anyone who's managed to rub the state authorities the wrong way. In this campaign of repression, various laws adopted by the State Duma (the very institution now up for grabs at the polls) have provided the key legal grounds for Russia's expanded policing. For a better grasp of what Russia's parliamentarians have actually been doing all these years, the German project dekoder and journalists at Novaya Gazeta analyzed everything said at State Duma sessions between 1994 and 2021. One finding in this study: unlike Russia's president, the country's federal lawmakers are not shy about speaking Alexey Navalny's name. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/17/how-russia-s-parliament-speaks
On Friday, September 17, Russia kicked off the first of three days of voting in the State Duma elections, as well as in a number of regional parliamentary elections. Things got off to a busy start with many polling stations seeing abnormally long lines of civil servants and military personnel looking to cast their ballots first thing in the morning. Journalists, human rights activists, and election observers were quick to point this out. According to Meduza's sources, government employees were pressured to vote en masse before noon on Friday, to ensure maximum turnout from the get-go. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/17/freeing-up-the-weekend
From September 17-19, Russians are heading to the polls to cast their ballots in the 2021 State Duma elections. The first day of voting on Friday was marked by abnormally long lines at polling stations, reportedly due to pressure on civil servants meant to ensure high turnout right from the start. Allegedly, the authorities are gunning for the United Russia to win 45 percent of the vote. But heading into the elections, the ruling party's polling results were less than ideal. Will United Russia win its proclaimed "optimal" result? Meduza breaks down this question and other key intrigues surrounding the elections here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/17/the-ones-to-watch
Anastasia Vasilyeva, the director of the Doctors' Alliance labor union and an ophthalmologist who has treated Alexey Navalny directly, says she no longer wishes to be associated with Navalny's most recognizable political project. In a post on Facebook, the activist accused "the management of the Anti-Corruption Foundation" of exploiting her labor union and then forgetting about the group when they no longer needed it. Meduza has confirmed that Vasilyeva herself wrote the post; no one has hacked her Facebook account. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/16/labor-union-leader-and-former-ally-denounces-navalny-s-top-associates-on-eve-of-russian-elections
Moscow's Zamoskvoretsky District Court handed down fines to iStories journalists Alesya Marokhovskaya, Irina Dolinina, and Polina Uzhvak on Thursday, September 16. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/16/three-istories-journalists-fined-for-picketing-against-foreign-agent-designations
Russian President Vladimir Putin says the coronavirus outbreak in his inner circle has affected "several dozen people." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/16/vladimir-putin-says-several-dozen-people-in-his-inner-circle-caught-covid-19
In mid-August, Russian film director Andrey Zvyagintsev was transferred to Germany for treatment due to a severe case of COVID-19. Doctors are now preparing to bring him out of a medically-induced coma, reports The Bell, citing sources familiar with the situation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/16/russian-film-director-andrey-zvyagintsev-reportedly-in-medically-induced-coma
The Russian Investigative Committee launched a criminal case over an alleged attempt to orchestrate "mass riots" during voting in this weekend's State Duma elections, the agency announced on Thursday, September 16. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/16/russian-investigators-launch-criminal-case-over-alleged-attempt-to-orchestrate-mass-riots-during-elections-via-telegram
The "Smart Vote" website and Telegram bot are being subjected to DDoS attacks, Alexey Navalny's team reported late in the evening on Thursday, September 16. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/16/team-navalny-reports-ddos-attacks-on-smart-vote-website
It's been five years since Russian photographer Dmitry Markov last published a book of his work. In the meantime, he's been sharing his snapshots on Instagram. But with the Kremlin cracking down on civil society and increasingly censoring online content, Markov decided to put his work down on paper once again. In his words, "The events of this year suggest the disturbing thought that 'free access' is a fragile phenomenon and depends on the political agenda. Of course, the likelihood of Instagram being blocked is low, but such a scenario can't be ruled out entirely. In this context, I would like to preserve a multi-year photo archive in a reliable, analog format." Markov is currently raising money to fund the publication of his forthcoming book. Titled "Rossiya v kvadrate" ("Russia Squared"), it's set to be released by the publishing house Treemedia early this winter. Meduza shares some of the snapshots from Dmitry Markov's photobook here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/15/russia-squared
Since early 2021, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has regularly resorted to sanctioning his domestic opponents. By law, both Ukraine's president and National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) have the right to impose sanctions -- and they've used it to target opposition-leaning media outlets. The television channels 112 Ukraine, NewsOne, and ZIK came under sanctions back in February, and in August, sanctions were imposed on Igor Guzhva, the founder and editor-in-chief of the news site Strana. All of these media outlets have a reputation for being "pro-Russian" and for leveling criticism against Zelensky, particularly for his supposed refusal to reconcile with the separatist-held territories in eastern Ukraine, alleged infringements on the rights of Russian-speaking Ukrainians, and alleged support for nationalists. In turn, the Ukrainian authorities maintain that they're imposing sanctions in the name of protecting national security and accuse these media outlets of promoting the "Kremlin's agenda." At the same time, the opacity of the decision making leaves room for the opposition to argue that Zelensky's government is carrying out attacks on freedom of speech. Journalist Konstantin Skorkin breaks down the controversy for Meduza. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/15/the-information-war-for-truth
In a new report for BBC Russia, journalist Pyotr Kozlov profiles Dmitry Medvedev's political life since losing his job as prime minister in January 2020. "Roughly two dozen sources at the highest echelons of the Russian government" mostly told Kozlov that Medvedev has been unhappy in his new position as deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council. The former Russian president has apparently been busy trying to make a comeback, albeit without much success. Meduza summarizes what BBC Russia discovered. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/16/medvedev-the-forgotten
On Tuesday, September 14, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he's going into self-isolation after several people in his inner circle were diagnosed with the coronavirus. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/14/putin-to-self-isolate-due-to-coronavirus-cases-in-his-inner-circle
Court marshal's visited Google's Moscow office in the Balchug Plaza business center on the evening of Monday, September 13. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/14/court-marshals-visit-google-s-moscow-office-in-connection-with-injunction-against-smart-vote-search-results
An anti-migrant protest erupted in Buzhaninovo, a village in the Moscow region, on the evening of September 13. This came after local news outlets published a letter from a reader, claiming that two migrant workers were detained on suspicion of raping and murdering a local woman. State investigators later confirmed the arrests in the murder case, laying charges against two unnamed foreign citizens on September 14. The crowd of several hundred demonstrators gathered outside of a migrant dormitory in the village and didn't disperse until local officials promised to get the company that owns the dormitory to shut it down. The Moscow region's governor later ordered the dormitory's closure. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/14/lynching-is-a-mistake
In December 2019, Ilya Khudoba was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a disorder that costs millions of dollars to treat. His parents turned to Instagram to raise money for the drug their toddler needed. But it wasn't until Russian rapper Morgernshtern "blew up" their crowdfunding campaign that the donations started pouring in. Khudoba's parents were able to announce the happy end of their fundraising efforts on September 14 -- three days after Morgenstern released a video in support of Ilya, in which the rapper admitted that he decided to help the family in an attempt to stave off problems with the police. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/14/tears-of-joy-finally
Russia's federal censor (Roskomnadzor) blocked former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky's website "duma.vote," reported the digital rights group Roskomsvoboda on Monday, September 13. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/13/russia-s-federal-censor-blocks-mikhail-khodorkovsky-s-website-duma-vote
On September 8, three members of a Moscow family fell ill after eating watermelon from the Magnit grocery store on Sovkhoznaya Street. All three were hospitalized and two later died. Several other residents of their building and the neighboring one were also hospitalized with poisoning symptoms. On September 13, the Moscow branch of Russia's consumer rights watchdog (Rospotrebnadzor) said that they found traces of an insecticide in the watermelon the family ate. This same insect poison was found in other watermelons from the Magnit store. Moscow investigators arrested an exterminator from the pest-control company Klimovsk-Dez as a suspect in the case. However, officials haven't offered an explanation as to why the family's neighbors also fell ill. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/13/insecticidal-traces
Imprisoned opposition politician Alexey Navalny filed a lawsuit against the Russian Attorney General's Office and the federal censor (Roskomnadzor), according to a case listing on the website of Moscow's Tverskoy District Court. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/13/alexey-navalny-sues-russian-attorney-general-s-office-and-federal-censor-over-decision-to-block-his-website
In the Siberian city of Angarsk, several prisoners in the high-security Correctional Colony No. 2 went on hunger strike on September 13, to protest abuse and torture at the hands of prison officials. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/13/prisoners-in-siberia-go-on-hunger-strike-to-protest-abuse-and-torture
Users of Apple devices in Russia report that the App Store has crashed, says the online publication Vc.ru. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/13/apple-s-app-store-goes-down-in-russia-is-only-accessible-via-vpn
Officials in Moscow have allocated at least 10 billion rubles ($136.5 million) to the construction of a sparkling new headquarters for a special anti-riot police regiment that works primarily with public demonstrations. Meduza discovered multiple large city contracts that first appeared online in public records in April. The new office will be erected at 39 Ryabinovaya Street, but public estate documents identify the compound as a future perfume factory. Meanwhile, satellite images and employment listings tell another story. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/08/well-isn-t-that-special
The CIA was involved in the Ukrainian-led operation that resulted in the arrest of 33 suspected Russian mercenaries in Belarus last year, reported CNN on Wednesday, September 8. Citing Ukrainian intelligence officials, CNN said that American intelligence provided their Ukrainian counterparts with "U.S. cash, technical assistance, and advice." However, U.S. officials deny playing a direct role in the operation, suggesting that the Ukrainian side may be attempting to "share or pass blame" for a sting gone wrong. In turn, the Kremlin's spokesman and the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) described CNN's report as further confirmation of the involvement of foreign intelligence in the detention of the Russian nationals -- something Russian authorities, including President Vladimir Putin, have claimed all along. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/08/sharing-the-blame
Hopelessness and disgust. That is the mission of Russia's latest batch of "spoiler" candidates and electioneering, according to a new report by BBC Russia correspondent Elizaveta Fokht. The main targets of these "dark technologies" in the September 2021 races are politicians nominated by the (left-wing) Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF), the (right-wing) Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), and the democratic opposition party Yabloko. Candidates from Just Russia and the ruling party United Russia have been mysteriously spared. While many of the stunts performed throughout this summer's campaigns seem like smear attempts, experts told Fokht that Russia's spoilers actually hope to discourage swing voters from participating at all. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/09/spoiled-elections
On Wednesday, September 8, Russia's Emergency Situations Minister Evgeny Zinichev died on Lake Lama, 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of the Arctic city of Norilsk. The Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) said that the incident took place "during drills" in the region -- allegedly, Zinichev died while attempting to save documentary filmmaker Alexander Melkin, who was standing next to the minister "on the edge of a cliff" when he slipped and fell into the water below. Melkin died, as well. This same version of events was recounted by RT editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan on Telegram (though she didn't reveal her source). The Kremlin dismissed other accounts of the circumstances surrounding Zinichev's death as "blasphemous, untrue fabrications." Meduza profiles the late Evgeny Zinichev -- "Putin's former bodyguard" who, much to his dismay, found himself in the political spotlight. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/09/the-reluctant-official
Earlier this month, "Team 29" founder and human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov fled Russia and moved to the Republic of Georgia to escape felony prosecution for supposedly disclosing classified evidence from the treason case against former journalist Ivan Safronov, whom Pavlov was defending. Under the terms of the charges against Pavlov, he was prohibited from using the Internet or any mobile connection -- even to communicate with his client. Now that he's emigrated, Pavlov can speak to whomever he likes, and he agreed to tell Meduza why he left, when he hopes to return, and what he plans to do next. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/09/they-followed-me-all-the-way-to-the-airstairs
On Friday, September 10, a Moscow court sentenced prominent Pussy Riot activist Maria Alyokhina to one year of "restrictions on freedom" (a parole-like sentence). As part of the "Sanitary Case," the court found her guilty of inciting violations of pandemic-related restrictions and, consequently, creating the threat of a mass coronavirus outbreak. State prosecutors sought two years of restricted freedom for Alyokhina, who has been shuffled from house arrest to pre-trial detention since the launch of the "Sanitary Case" in late January. Meduza shares a full English-language translation of Maria Alyokhina's final courtroom remarks here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/10/i-made-my-choice-now-it-s-your-turn
Russian national Irina Wickholm was last heard from in late May. Around that time, she phoned a friend to tell him that a police officer had visited her home in Brest, Belarus. Prior to her disappearance, Wickholm was actively tweeting to her handful of Twitter followers about the "crimes" of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Three months later, the Belarusian Attorney General's Office sent out a press release about a felony defamation case opened against a "58-year-old foreign citizen" identified only by the initial "V." Shortly afterward, human rights activists identified the defendant in the trial as Irina Wickholm. Now, she faces up to five years in prison in Belarus for what her friends describe as "strictly" armchair activism. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/10/she-s-strictly-an-armchair-crusader
The Russian Olympic Committee's medalists from the Tokyo Games are being quarantined for seven days ahead of a meeting with President Vladimir Putin. While some athletes have embraced the self-isolation period as a "holiday," others fear their inability to train properly during this time may affect their performance in upcoming competitions. What's more, the meeting with Putin has already been postponed by a day. Putin met with the Russian Olympic Committee's athletes on the eve of the games at the end of June; apparently, the Olympians didn't quarantine beforehand. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/10/the-special-precautions-continue
In recent months, the remnants of imprisoned opposition politician Alexey Navalny's team have endured police pressure that has no precedent in Russia's post-Soviet history. The authorities have devoted special attention to "Smart Vote," the Navalny movement's strategic initiative (first introduced in 2019 and 2020 for local elections in Moscow, Tomsk, and Novosibirsk) that directs opposition voters to the candidates Team Navalny deems likeliest to defeat nominees from United Russia, the country's ruling political party. In its war against Smart Vote, Russia's federal censor, RKN, has even started threatening some of the world's biggest Internet companies. Here is a chronology of the last three months in this confrontation between the Russian state and Alexey Navalny's last-standing national campaign. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/11/under-pressure
On September 6, a search party in Kiselyovsk, outside Kemerovo, found the bodies of two 10-year-old girls. Their names were Nastya Fesler and Ulyana Degtyar. Forty-one-year-old Viktor Pesternikov, who served 10 years in a prison colony for "violent actions of a sexual nature against a minor" until he was released in 2019, confessed to raping and murdering the girls. After his release from prison, Pesternikov was banned from leaving the city of Myski, where he lived, and was required to check in regularly with police. But this didn't prevent him from traveling to nearby Kiselyovsk -- or even from working and living there. On the day of the murders, Pesternikov sat with the girls at the playground, took them shopping, and bought them food and alcohol. Meduza special correspondent Irina Kravtsova traveled to Kiselyovsk to find out how this kind of crime was possible, and why two 10-year-olds would willingly follow a strange man just because he promised them food. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/13/that-s-uncle-vitya-he-s-harmless
The Crimean city of Simferopol and the Russian city of Krasnodar both unveiled monuments to Soviet secret police founder Felix Dzerzhinsky on September 11, the 144th anniversary of his birth. Both monuments drew criticism from representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church, who condemned memorializing one of the architects of the Red Terror as an insult to its victims. The monument in Krasnodar was erected outside of a secondary school that was named after Dzerzhinsky in 2017, at the request of the school's staff and the local FSB. In total, there are more than 40 monuments to Dzerzhinsky located across Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/13/memorializing-iron-felix
Standup comedian Idrak Mirzalizade is suing Russia's Interior Ministry, demanding that the agency rescind its decision to prohibit his residence in Russia. Last month, the agency designated Mirzalizade as a threat to Russia's public order and declared him "undesirable for life." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/07/comedian-banned-from-russia-files-lawsuit-hoping-to-regain-residence-access
St. Petersburg's Municipal Election Council has dismissed two complaints filed by city councilman Boris Vishnevsky, who will face two rivals in elections later this month who changed their first and last names to match his. To avoid confusion with voters, Vishnevsky demanded that ballots display these other candidates' previous names, but election officials ruled that such disclosures are only necessary when candidates' full names (middle names, or patronymics, included) are the same. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/07/the-doppelgangers-spoiling-one-st-petersburg-lawmaker-s-campaign-are-here-to-stay
Ivan Pavlov, the human rights lawyer charged with leaking classified trial data from a treason case against a former journalist, has fled Russia. On Telegram, Pavlov announced that he's now in Georgia and hopes to return home, one day. The various restrictions he faced because of the charges against him, Pavlov explained, "gradually made [his] work impossible." Courts prohibited him from using the Internet and speaking to his own clients and many of his own colleagues. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/07/prominent-human-rights-lawyer-flees-russia-to-escape-criminal-charges-related-to-treason-case
Across the city of Moscow, there are 954 electronic parking meters where motorists can purchase temporary permit slips to display on their dashboards. These meters are not popular; officials in the city's Transportation Department told Meduza that just 1.3 percent of drivers bother with the electronic meters, while 89 percent prefer to use the dedicated mobile app "Parking in Moscow." Unloved as they may be, the physical network of meters still needs maintenance, which means the city must spend money to keep these devices working. Meduza has learned that the latest multimillion-dollar contract went to a company run by Alexey Rakov, the younger brother of Moscow's deputy mayor. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/07/lovely-meter-maid
Russia's federal censor, Roskomnadzor (RKN), has added the caller identification app "GetContact" to one of its registries, thereby obliging it to collect and store users' data and share it with government and law enforcement agencies at their request. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/03/roskomnadzor-orders-getcontact-to-hand-over-users-data-to-law-enforcement-agencies
The Kremlin will review the proposed amendments to Russia's law on "foreign agents" put forward by the publishers and editors-in-chief of independent media outlets, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told RIA Novosti on Friday, September 3. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/03/kremlin-to-review-amendments-to-foreign-agent-law-put-forward-by-independent-media
Roskomnadzor (RKN) blocked six VPN services, Interfax reports. According to the federal censorship agency, the VPN providers -- NordVPN, ExpressVPN, IPVanish, Hola, VPN Unlimited, and Speedify -- "violate Russian law." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/03/roskomnadzor-blocks-six-vpn-services-including-top-rated-providers
On Friday, September 3, the Rostov Regional Court revoked the five-day jail term previously handed down to activist Bella Nasibyan for posting a photo of a "Smart Vote" poster on Instagram. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/09/03/russian-court-revokes-decision-to-jail-activist-over-photo-of-smart-vote-poster
The Russian authorities' unprecedented attack on independent journalism is continuing apace. Since April 2021, seven media outlets and 20 individual journalists have been declared "foreign agents." Another investigative publication was deemed an "undesirable organization." Meduza asked the editors-in-chief of six blacklisted media outlets to respond to the same set of questions about how they're coping with the crackdown. Though their answers varied, they all agreed they can't count on the authorities easing up. As it turns out, all of these top editors are proceeding from the assumption that producing honest journalism in Russia will only get more and more difficult. But this also means that their reporting will be increasingly in demand. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/01/our-readership-is-smarter-than-the-kremlin-thinks
On August 30, iStories journalist Alesya Marokhovskaya wrote on Facebook that the Moscow-based nonprofit Information Culture had uninvited her to work as a mentor at a hackathon. The organization backpedaled on offering Marokhovskaya the gig after the Russian Justice Ministry designated her as a "foreign agent." Information Culture's staff told Marokhovskaya that their lawyers had advised them against signing a contract with a "foreign agent," because it could create risks for the nonprofit organization itself. Meduza asked lawyers and labor law experts to weigh in on whether or not this decision is legal, and whether or not it constitutes discrimination. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/01/creating-outcasts
President Vladimir Putin spent Knowledge Day, September 1, in Russia's far-eastern city of Vladivostok. There, he met with some of the country's star schoolchildren, the winners of various academic competitions and educational olympiads. But over the course of their conversation, he made a small mistake. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/01/be-humble
Jesus Christ was the first communist on the planet, KPRF leader Gennady Zyuganov proclaimed during a Komsomolskaya Pravda radio broadcast on September 1. The Russian Orthodox Church replied that "it does not consider it correct and appropriate to compare the incarnation of God with any political and economic doctrines, including communism." However, this isn't the first time Zyuganov has referred to Jesus as a communist. Meduza discovered that Communist Party leader has been making this claim for at least 20 years -- and more often than not, he brings it up ahead of parliamentary elections. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/02/communist-moralizing
Academic rights and freedoms were among the few achievements won by Russia's democratizing turn in the 1990s, even as government funding plummeted. Now the state has returned to the academy, aiming to make it world-class. In an essay for Meduza's Ideas section, sociologist Dmitry Dubrovsky explains why such a goal is incompatible with a repressive stance seeking to limit contacts with the global academic community. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/01/a-world-class-education
It's been two days since Meduza concluded its summer music festival, where well-known artists (like Eurovision finalist Manizha) showed their support for Meduza and other media outlets labeled as "foreign agents" by premiering new music and special covers of beloved tracks. Now, heading into fall, other creatives are taking on the "foreign agent" theme -- namely, graffiti artists. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/02/it-s-not-okay
The independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta obtained an audio recording that allegedly reveals poll workers in Korolyov, a city outside Moscow, being trained to rig the vote ahead of the State Duma elections. The woman heard on the tape is believed to be Zhanna Prokofieva, an advisor to the mayor of Korolyov. Speaking at a meeting with local election commission leaders, the "supervisor" heard on the recording tasks poll workers with providing United Russia with 42-45 percent of the vote, and explains to them how to falsify the voting results. Novaya Gazeta sent the leaked recording to Russia's Central Election Commission on September 2, along with an official request for comment. Meduza summarizes the audio recording here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/02/specific-numbers
During a visit to Yekaterinburg on September 2, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was treated to a patriotic flash mob performed by employees of the wholesale company Sima-Land. The Sverdlovsk region's Governor Evgeny Kuyvashev and Yekaterinburg businessman Andrey Simanovsky also attended the event. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/02/we-are-team-putin
On the morning of September 2, The Bell's newsletter subscribers received an email that urged them to boycott the upcoming State Duma election. The publication quickly apologized, saying the mailout came from hackers. This apparent hack is the third attack on the news site in the last three weeks. On August 11, one of The Bell's journalists reported that someone tried to hack her phone. And on August 25, its website went down due to an "external attack." The story of the most recent hack was picked up by the state-owned television channel Russia 24, which aired a segment where "experts" speculated that The Bell was actually behind the provocative mailout. The segment also underscored the fact that "The Bell isn't on the list of 'foreign agents' yet." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/03/not-a-foreign-agent-yet
Sue Dobson is now 59 years old and living a quiet life as a retired person in Britain, but her youth as a white woman in apartheid-era South Africa was turbulent. In her 20s, she joined the African National Congress (ANC) and infiltrated the white minority government. In these endeavors, Dobson had help from the USSR: seven months of military and intelligence training in Moscow in 1986. With these skills, she returned to South Africa as an undercover agent and inserted herself into the pro-government media, eventually finding a job at the Bureau of Information, where she collected evidence of propaganda campaigns to undermine the nation's opposition and destabilize neighboring states. When Dobson's cover was blown, it was a Soviet official who saved her by helping her escape to London, where she ultimately won political asylum. Meduza is the second news outlet to share Dobson's story, which first appeared earlier this week at The Observer. Her life will serve as the basis for an upcoming film, titled "Burned." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/03/i-owe-everything-to-the-man-at-the-soviet-mission
On September 1, Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced that 1.3 million people had registered to vote electronically in the Moscow City Duma election - that's 17.5 percent of the city's eligible voters. Last time around, in the 2016 City Duma elections - when electronic registration hadn't yet been implemented - 35 percent of eligible voters went to the polls. In other words, a full half of the voters who voted in the previous election may vote online in the upcoming election. Meduza explains what this trend means for the future of Russian democracy. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/09/04/reinventing-the-steal
Natura Siberica co-founder Irina Trubnikova (the first wife of the cosmetics giant's late founder, Andrey Trubnikov) has regained control of the company's property, The Bell reported on Monday, August 30. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/30/natura-siberica-co-founder-regains-control-of-company-s-property-halts-production
The felony fraud case opened against the Belarusian IT company "PandaDoc" amid last summer's opposition protests has been closed, Belarus's Attorney General's Office announced on Monday, August 30. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/30/belarusian-authorities-drop-fraud-case-against-it-company-pandadoc
Alexey Navalny's spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh has left Russia, Interfax reported on Monday, August 30, citing two informed sources. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/30/navalny-s-spokeswoman-kira-yarmysh-has-fled-russia-reports-interfax
On August 27, 2021, newsrooms across Russia appealed in unison to the country's leadership, demanding an end to the authorities' campaign against independent journalism. Dozhd, Novaya Gazeta, Forbes Russia, The Village, Republic, Wonderzine, and many more outlets have published letters calling for a return to sanity. This is Meduza's appeal. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/30/demands-from-the-free-press
Russia has banned comedian Idrak Mirzalizade from residing in the country for life over an "insulting" joke about Russians. Mirzalizade, who is of Azerbaijani origin, was jailed earlier this month on misdemeanor charges of inciting interethnic hatred. This came after he appeared on a comedy show aired on YouTube, where he made jokes about the xenophobia he encountered while apartment hunting in Moscow. Pro-Kremlin outlets picked up the story, claiming that Mirzalizade had "offended" Russians and should be prosecuted. The comedian, who maintains his innocence and says his statements were taken out of context, has reportedly left Russia already. Meduza chronicles the timeline of events leading up to Idrak Mirzalizade's expulsion here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/30/undesirable-comedy
In early August, an explosion thundered from beneath the steps of the Smolninskoye municipal hall in central St. Petersburg. This part of the city has been the subject of a protracted and bitter struggle for power between the head of the local council of deputies, Grigory Rankov (who failed to get re-elected two years ago, but managed to cling on to his post), and local oppositionists. Rankov's opponents on the council believe he's the mastermind behind the blast, and although law enforcement have not corroborated his involvement, Rankov has indeed exhibited some odd behavior in recent weeks. For example, posting a video of himself shooting a Kalashnikov rifle, accompanied by threatening comments. Meduza tracks Rankov's journey from IT teacher and ballroom dancer, to municipal councilman now known as "Detonator Greg." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/30/the-dynamite-deputy
On August 28, the far-right hate group "Male State" launched an attack on the Russian sushi delivery chain "YobiDoyobi" over an advertisement featuring a Black model. In response, the company pulled the ad and issued a public apology. The next day, Male State founder Vladislav Pozdnyakov called on his followers to go after "Tanuki," another Russian chain of Japanese restaurants, for featuring a Black model and the rainbow flag in its marketing materials. This time, however, the target of the attack has refused to succumb to the pressure - even after law enforcement received a string of reports about bomb threats at Tanuki's Moscow locations. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/30/we-are-tanuki
Russia's Central Election Commission (CEC) has decided to file lawsuits with the Supreme Court seeking to bar a number of candidates from running in September's State Duma election because they own foreign assets. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/27/russian-election-officials-file-lawsuits-to-remove-state-duma-candidates-who-own-foreign-assets
Russian artist Artem Loskutov is auctioning off a work of art online in support of the television network Dozhd and other media outlets that the Russian authorities have labeled "foreign agents." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/27/russian-artist-artem-loskutov-auctions-off-art-piece-in-support-of-dozhd
Over the course of two weeks in August, 95 Afghan nationals reached out to the Moscow-based charity Civic Assistance Committee for help. They had all come to Russia before the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan; most came to study or to work. Now, they're seeking asylum, but this is no easy feat. Indeed, as of January 1, 2020, only 455 people in Russia were in possession of refugee status. For years and sometimes decades, tens of thousands of people have tried to seek asylum in Russia - usually in vain. Just last month, authorities in the Leningrad region expelled an Afghan girl and her family from the country; they had fled to Russia after the Taliban tried to force the 12-year-old child to marry. To find out more about the challenges Afghan asylum seekers face in Russia, Meduza spoke to "refugees sur place," an Afghan woman who fled to Moscow in 1997, and students who are now afraid to return to their homeland. Here are their stories. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/27/returning-home-means-death
On August 11, the Telegram channel Baza reported that Khalimat Taramova had made another attempt to escape Chechnya. The 22-year-old fled to a women's shelter in neighboring Dagestan back in June, but was forcibly returned to her family by Chechen police officers. Human rights activists don't know where Khalimat Taramova is now and some fear that she may in fact be dead. Meduza learned that not long before her first attempt to flee Chechnya, Taramova's parents sent her to an unlicensed "elite clinic" on the outskirts of Moscow, where alleged doctors spent several months trying to "cure" the young woman of her relationship with her partner, Anna Manylova. Here's what Meduza found out about what happened to Khalimat Taramova before and after she fled Chechnya. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/26/held-captive-or-killed
The nature of political violence in Russia changed in the summer of 2021. What was once a disparate collection of draconian laws and legislative amendments (four categories of "foreign agent," a registry for "undesirable" organizations, and a growing list of "extremists") has now coalesced into a single campaign. Having destroyed the anti-Kremlin opposition, the Russian authorities have turned their attention to the free press. Since April, officials have designated seven newsrooms and 20 individual journalists as "foreign agents," and banned an entire outlet as "undesirable." The federal censor has blocked a handful of news websites, forcing several publications to close down permanently. The independent media outlets yet to receive any special status from the Russian government nevertheless operate in constant fear of police raids and lawsuits. The agencies responsible for this attack on Russia's free press have worked so swiftly that the public still knows alarmingly little about how this repressive system operates. Meduza special correspondent Lilia Yapparova investigated the apparatus that's been turned against Russia's independent journalists and uncovered how collaboration between a group of "civic informants," the state media outlet RT, and Russia's national security bloc fuels this summer's crackdown. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/27/the-enemies-list
Under the instruction of President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defense Ministry has organized the evacuation of more than 500 people from Afghanistan, Interfax reported on Wednesday, August 25. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/25/russian-defense-ministry-evacuates-500-people-from-afghanistan
Russian investigators have opened a felony case on charges of ecocide over Ukraine's decision to cut off water deliveries to Crimea after Moscow annexed the peninsula in 2014. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/25/russia-launches-felony-ecocide-case-over-crimea-s-water-blockade
The Moscow Mayor's Office has rejected an application from the Journalists' and Media Workers' Union to hold a protest rally opposing Russia's "foreign agents" law. According to the Telegram channel Avtozak Live, city hall's Regional Security Department cited the ban on holding public gatherings imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic as the reason for turning down the application. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/25/moscow-authorities-reject-protest-rally-against-foreign-agents-law
On August 24, Ukraine celebrated the 30th anniversary of its independence from the Soviet Union. To mark the occasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky gave a speech at a parade of troops in downtown Kyiv. In his address, Zelensky reflected on Ukraine's recent and historical achievements and announced plans to introduce a new holiday, the Day of Ukrainian Statehood. He also emphasized that Ukraine is fighting for its people in Crimea and the eastern Donbas region and promised the return of these territories. Meduza summarizes Zelensky's speech, in a nutshell. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/24/we-are-a-family
More than 20 years ago, when Russia still had public politics and the Putin administration faced scandals that weren't only international, customs inspectors tied a contraband scheme involving several furniture companies to senior officials in the Federal Security Service (FSB). Though the Three Whales Case, as it became known, pitted various "clans" within Russia's national security apparatus against each other, it ended with just a few minor convictions despite evidence of bribery and obstruction of justice. President Putin took direct control of the investigation, but it was State Duma deputy and journalist Yuri Shchekochikhin who pursued the case most aggressively. In July 2003, shortly before he was scheduled to visit the United States to share case materials with the FBI, Shchekochikhin fell ill and soon died. Officially, he succumbed to a rare allergic reaction, but friends and colleagues suspect that Shchekochikhin was poisoned. iStories correspondent Roman Shleinov was one of those longtime coworkers. In a new investigative report, Shleinov says he's finally pieced together evidence from the Three Whales Case that ties the investigation's suspects to members of Vladimir Putin's inner circle. Meduza summarizes these findings. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/25/three-whales-after-20-years
From August 19 to 21, the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod celebrated its much anticipated 800-year jubilee. President Vladimir Putin paid a special visit for the occasion, attending a gala with performances by famous Russian rappers and rock stars and getting a grand tour of the ongoing renovations in the city's historic center. In the lead up to the celebrations, the Russian government allocated more than 32 billion rubles ($434 million) to the city renewal project. But local residents aren't necessarily pleased with the refurbishments. Meduza looks into how the anniversary preparations changed Nizhny Novgorod's streets and local politics. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/24/an-urban-miracle
During his daily press briefing on August 25, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov fielded a number of questions about the enforcement of Russia's "foreign agents" law. Pointing to the Russian Justice Ministry's recent decision to designate the independent television channel Dozhd (TV Rain) as a "foreign agent" due to funding from the EU, Meduza's correspondent asked Peskov why state-controlled publications that have also received foreign funding haven't been blacklisted. Here's what Peskov had to say. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/25/selective-application
On August 25, Moscow's Preobrazhensky District Court sentenced municipal deputy and Pussy Riot activist Lyusya Shtein to one year of "restrictions on freedom." This is the latest parole-like sentence handed down to a defendant in the so-called "Sanitary Case." The court prohibited Shtein from leaving her home between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., attending and participating in mass gatherings, and traveling outside of Moscow without permission from the authorities. Shtein is also obliged to report to a probation office twice a month. Meduza shares a full English-language translation of Lyusya Shtein's final courtroom remarks here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/25/my-case-is-a-drop-in-the-ocean
In the 2019 Moscow City Duma elections, pro-government candidates lost in 20 out of 45 single-mandate constituencies. Now, officials in the capital are hoping to make a comeback in the State Duma elections slated for September 2021. Their goal is to win in all of the city's 15 districts, which determines the deputies of the federal parliament's lower house. Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev has learned that Moscow City Hall currently considers three of the 15 districts "problematic." At the same time, they're counting on infighting among opposition figures to lead to a victory for pro-government candidates. Here's what we know about the Moscow government's goals for the upcoming elections - and how they plan to achieve them. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/25/back-with-a-vengeance
The Journalists' and Media Workers' Union has notified the Moscow Mayor's Office that it plans to hold a protest rally opposing Russia's "foreign agents" law. The demonstration is scheduled for September 4, 2021, and will take place on Moscow's Pushkin Square. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/23/journalists-union-plans-protest-rally-in-moscow-opposing-foreign-agents-law
Mobile operators and Internet providers in Russia have started blocking Alexey Navalny's mobile app. According to the project GlobalCheck, which monitors Russia's Internet blocking system, the app is currently unavailable in the country. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/23/russia-begins-blocking-alexey-navalny-s-mobile-app
A new media ownership bill put forward by the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party is stoking concerns about press freedom in Poland. The parliament's lower house, the Sejm, passed the draft law in a scandalous vote on August 11. The law aims to impose restrictions on foreign ownership of Polish broadcasters, but critics argue that it targets one media holding in particular, whose television channels have taken a critical stance towards the current government. Members of the PiS insist the bill is a necessary safeguard against "third-country attacks" (apparently from the likes of Russia and China). That said, the legislation is in line with the ruling party's long-running drive to take control of the media in Poland - a policy it's pursuing at great risk. Indeed, disputes over the media ownership bill have already wreaked havoc with the ruling coalition. In a special report for Meduza, journalist Stanislav Kuvaldin explains why this contentious bill is a fraught endeavor for the Polish government. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/23/meet-lex-tvn
In the summer of 1991, my friends and I were 20-year-old college students who had no intention of participating in our country's politics in any way, shape, or form. But on the morning of August 19, politics came to us - in the form of radio broadcasts and tanks on the streets of Moscow. It was a real shock, even in 1991, when the Soviet system was coming apart before our eyes. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/23/hi-there-s-a-military-coup-underway
Commenting on recent reports of conflict between the Taliban and resistance forces in Afghanistan's Panjshir region, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that Russia has no plans to intervene. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/23/russia-won-t-intervene-in-conflict-between-taliban-and-resistance-fights-says-kremlin-spokesman
Exactly one year ago, Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny was poisoned with a chemical nerve agent in Siberia. Today, he's sitting in a prison outside Moscow. In a post on Instagram, Navalny marked the first anniversary of his poisoning by thanking everyone who helped him survive the assassination attempt. "I got a second chance at life and made decisions that I believe are correct and honest," he wrote. As always, Navalny found a way to tie in the problem of corruption, arguing that it played a role in saving his life. "Having contaminated Russia's entire state apparatus, they couldn't help but contaminate the intelligence services. And the quality of the covert operations we have is the same as our healthcare, education, and communal services," the Kremlin critic said. Meduza takes a look back on everything that's happened to Alexey Navalny since he was poisoned one year ago today. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/20/a-year-in-the-life
The Russian authorities have a habit of executing politically controversial acts on Friday evenings. The phenomenon is known as "Clusterfuck Fridays" (it rhymes in Russian, but we can't print it here), and another such Friday unfolded late on August 20, when the Justice Ministry designated two new "foreign agent" media outlets: the investigative news website iStories and the television network Dozhd, as well as a handful of independent journalists. Immediately following the announcement, Meduza special correspondent Kristina Safonova spoke to Natalia Sindeeva, Dozhd's founder and CEO. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/20/there-s-nothing-to-say-but-obscenities
On August 20, Russia's Justice Ministry added new media outlets and journalists to its ever-growing list of "foreign agents." iStories and its editor-in-chief, Roman Anin, were among these new designees. Anin is no stranger to police pressure after the authorities raided his home this spring in connection with an investigation into an investigative report he co-authored years ago about Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin's then-wife. Anin told Meduza special correspondent Lilia Yapparova that iStories have been preparing for "foreign agent" status for a long time. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/20/we-re-left-with-no-choice
Russia's registry of "foreign agent" journalists and media outlets now boasts a mighty 43 entries. The two latest organizations to debut on this list are Dozhd, the country's only independent television network, and a small but daring investigative project called iStories. Respectively, these outlets are the 35th and 37th entries on a list that seems bound for triple digits. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/20/welcome-the-the-party
On Friday, August 20, the Russian Justice Ministry designated the independent television channel Dozhd (TV Rain) and the investigative publication iStories as "foreign agents." Both media outlets were apparently blacklisted following demands from obscure campaigners. According to Dozhd's CEO, the television channel didn't receive any notice about the Justice Ministry's decision. At the same time, the designations aren't entirely unexpected given this year's long-running crackdown on civil society and independent media in Russia. The Russian Justice Ministry's "foreign-agent media" registry currently includes 43 entries, 25 of which are individual journalists. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/20/this-was-bound-to-happen
Russia's federal censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, has sent a letter to Apple demanding that the tech giant delete Alexey Navalny's mobile app, Mediazona reported on Thursday, August 19. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/19/russia-s-federal-censor-orders-apple-to-take-down-navalny-s-app
French President Emmanuel Macron had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the evening of Thursday, August 19. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/20/france-s-macron-calls-for-navalny-s-release-during-phone-call-with-putin
The UK authorities have imposed sanctions on seven individuals believed to be the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) operatives implicated in the August 2020 poisoning of opposition politician Alexey Navalny. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/20/uk-sanctions-seven-fsb-operatives-implicated-in-alexey-navalny-s-poisoning
August 9th marks the one year anniversary of the presidential election that sparked a mass opposition movement in Belarus. Since last summer, Alexander Lukashenko's regime has been carrying out a campaign of repression that has wiped out street protests, forced opposition leaders to flee the country, and all but destroyed the country's independent media. In total, at least seven opposition demonstrators were killed over the past year and the authorities launched 4,691 criminal cases in connection with the protests. According to the human rights group Viasna, there are currently more than 600 political prisoners in Belarus. Nevertheless, there is no indication that the persecutions are coming to an end: some opposition leaders are only now going to trial and there's an ongoing campaign to liquidate independent civil society organizations. Meduza looks back on the events of this pivotal year for Belarus. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/09/the-year-that-changed-belarus
On August 9, the anniversary of Belarus's contested presidential election, Alexander Lukashenko held a press conference that lasted for more than eight hours. Responding to questions from journalists, the Belarusian dictator downplayed the scale of the opposition demonstrations that erupted last year, denied evidence that Belarusian police tortured protesters in custody, and said the UK could "choke" on its latest package of sanctions against Belarus. Lukashenko also claimed that he's going to step down "very soon." Meduza summarizes Lukashenko's statements here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/09/you-can-choke-on-those-sanctions
There are six sisters in the Mirontsava family. In August 2020, three of them - Viktoriya, Aliaksandra, and Anastasiya - were detained during the opposition protests in Minsk. Aliaksandra managed to flee Belarus, but Viktoriya and Anastasiya were found guilty of "breaching public order" and "using violence against police officers" and sentenced to time in prison. The two sisters, who are now in a prison colony, are considered political prisoners. Prior to her arrest, Anastasiya was a student at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts in Minsk. She continued drawing even while in custody - first in a detention center and now inside the camp. Anastasiya passes her drawings and letters to close friends, who publish them on an Instagram account dedicated to her artwork. Despite the difficult conditions in which she lives and works, Anastasiya's texts and drawings are full of curiosity and tenderness toward the world. With the artist's permission, Meduza shares some of Anastasiya Mirontsava's works and excerpts from her letters here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/10/a-cell-with-a-view
Yassen Zassoursky helped shape generations of Russian journalists. Earlier this month, he died at the age of 91. Before becoming the president of the journalism department at Moscow State University (MSU), Zassoursky served as dean from 1965 to 2007. Students who graduated during his tenure now occupy positions across Russia's political spectrum, from liberal intellectuals like Sergey Parkhomenko and Dmitry Bykov to United Russia State Duma deputies like Pyotr Tolstoy and Alexander Khinstein. Andrei Richter was a long-time professor at MSU's School of Journalism who now serves as an adviser at the OSCE Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media and as a professor researcher at Comenius University in Bratislava. At Meduza's request, he shares his thoughts about Yassen Zassoursky's life and legacy. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/11/he-protected-us
On the evening of August 10, Belarusian state television aired a brief interview with Russian national Sofia Sapega. The 23-year-old was detained in Minsk alongside Belarusian opposition journalist Roman Protasevich on May 23, shortly after the forced landing of a Ryanair plane. After spending weeks in a detention center run by Belarus's intelligence agency (the KGB), Sapega and Protasevich were transferred to house arrest in late June. They are now awaiting trial on multiple felony charges. In conversation with television host Ksenia Lebedeva, Sapega recounted their circumstances surrounding the arrests. Among other things, she underscored that "there were no KGB officers on the plane." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/11/there-were-no-kgb-officers-on-the-plane
Journalists from the BBC published a new investigation (available in English and Russian) about the operations of the Russian mercenary group Wagner in Libya. The report is largely based on information obtained from an electronic tablet that was allegedly retrieved from a battlefield in western Libya. A local contact handed the device over to the BBC back in February. Upon gaining access to the information on the tablet, the journalists discovered that it contained dozens of files, including maps indicating Wagner positions, fighters' codenames, and the locations of mines. The BBC also obtained a separate 10-page document from a Libyan intelligence security source that allegedly "hints" at who could be funding the Wagner group. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/11/the-tale-of-the-lost-tablet
Dr. Zaius and Charlton Heston first battled for the fate of mankind more than half a century ago, but the original Planet of the Apes made something of a comeback in 2021, albeit mangled by online anti-vaxxer propaganda. In part at least, that is one of the revelations in Facebook's latest report on disinformation. Meduza breaks down how a Russia-linked ad agency recycled a monkey meme for a juvenile but apparently serious campaign against the West's coronavirus vaccines. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/12/you-damn-dirty-apes
An oil spill off Russia's Black Sea coast has contaminated an area at least 400 times bigger than initially estimated, scientists say. The spill took place on Saturday, August 7, at a Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) oil terminal near the port city of Novorossiysk. The CPC, which pumps in oil from Kazakhstan, addressed the spill two days later, claiming that an equipment breakdown caused 12 cubic meters of oil (12,000 liters) to spread over 200 square meters (2,153 square feet). Though the consortium claimed that the situation was "normalized" as of August 8, Russian scientists later reported that on that same day, the oil spill covered an area of 80 square kilometers (31 miles). Russia's natural resources regulator is currently working at the site of the accident to establish just how much oil spilled into the sea. Russian investigators also opened a felony case for environmental damage. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/12/crude-estimates
Russian investigators began carrying out searches at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) on August 12 - the day after media reports emerged about an oil spill in the Black Sea that took place over the weekend. The criminal investigation regarding the spill was also reclassified under more serious marine pollution charges, which carry punishments of up to two years behind bars. At the same time, the CPC's chief executive insists that a slick in the Black Sea identified by Russian scientists is not oil, and the regional governor says there are no visible oil spills along the coastline. Scientists refute these claims. As one environmental expert told Meduza, oil residue on the water's surface has likely evaporated due to heat, but there's still a risk of environmental damage from the spill. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/12/evaporating-evidence
Liya Milushkina and Artyom Milushkin are a well-known pair in the Pskov region. Liya managed the local branch of the opposition movement "Open Russia," and Artyom attended and organized protests, too. In January 2019, SWAT police raided their home, terrifying the couple's two small children. The authorities arrested Liya and Artyom on suspicion of felony drug trafficking and later charged Milushkin with organizing a series of arson attacks, as well. The Milushkins maintain their innocence and argue that the case against them is politically motivated. On August 12, 2021, a judge sentenced Artyom to 11 years in a maximum-security prison and sentenced Liya to 10.5 years in prison, which she won't begin until 2024, while she cares for their children. After the court's decision was announced, Artyom Milushkin ripped a bench from the courtroom floor and threw it in a fit of rage. He won't be home with his kids again until they're in their 20s. Meduza examines what we know about this controversial case. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/13/nearly-a-decade-without-mom-and-dad
The Berlin Crisis was already underway in the summer of 1961. This escalation of the Cold War began with the Soviet Union demanding the withdrawal of British, French, and U.S. forces from Berlin. These Western troops, as well as their Soviet counterparts, had been in Germany as occupying forces since 1945. But Berlin's status wasn't settled: both soldiers and civilians had the right to move between the city's western and eastern (Soviet) sectors. The Western allies rejected Moscow's ultimatum. In response, the East German authorities closed the border between the city's eastern and western sectors and began building the Berlin Wall - at first, it was primarily barbed wire entanglements and fences. After August 13, 1961, the city was divided in two for nearly 30 years. The wall became a barrier preventing Eastern Berliners from trying to flee to the West. And its fall in 1989 became the main symbol of the end of the Cold War and the collapse of communist regimes in Europe. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/13/august-13-1961
According to Meduza's sources, Russian oligarch Evgeny Prigozhin has bankrolled another made-for-TV movie about mercenaries from the Wagner group. The film is scheduled to premiere on August 18, on the pro-Kremlin channel NTV - the same television network that released a Prigozhin-backed action movie about Russian fighters in the Central African Republic earlier this year. Titled "Solntsepyok" ("Blazing Sun"), this new flick is set in eastern Ukraine in 2014 and allegedly "based on real events." Publications linked to Prigozhin were the first to announce the film's release. One source who worked on another movie sponsored by Prigozhin described this latest project as an attempt to put forward a "romanticized propaganda version" of the mercenary group and thereby launder Wagner's image. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/13/a-lugansk-chainsaw-massacre
In roughly a month, on September 17, three-day parliamentary elections will begin in Russia. Using party lists, opinion polls, and turnout estimates in each region across the country, it's relatively easy to predict the results. As ever, the biggest changes are taking place inside United Russia, the nation's ruling political party. What's the logic behind such changes, and whom should we expect to see in the new legislature? Political scientist Alexander Kynev explains. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/13/september-s-likely-winners
Belarusian state broadcasters have aired multiple interviews with opposition journalist Roman Protasevich since he was arrested in Minsk in May. But until earlier this week, he had yet to speak to any foreign media outlets. The Russian state-controlled broadcaster RT published an interview with Protasevich on Wednesday, August 11. In conversation with special correspondent Konstantin Pridybailo, who reported on last year's mass protests in Belarus for RT, Protasevich repeated many of the same talking points he covered on Belarusian state television. That said, he did reveal previously unknown plans to launch his own "neutral" media outlet. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/13/co-author-of-the-coup
Since the death of Russian businessman Andrey Trubnikov in January, the organic cosmetics brand Natura Siberica has gone into a tailspin. With his relatives caught up in a court battle over how to divide the company's shares, control passed to a trustee who initiated controversial leadership changes. On Thursday, August 12, the company's employees - who have sided with Natura Siberica co-founder Irina Trubnikova (Trubnikov's first wife) - accused the new management of carrying out a raider attack. This came after a number of key employees were denied access to the company's office and computer databases, and reportedly replaced by "unknown people." Irina Trubnikova says she's in shock after being shut out of the company's operations and is now willing to enter into negotiations to "preserve the brand," on the condition that her employees get their jobs back. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/16/a-crude-raider-takeover
Catastrophic wildfires are still sweeping Russia's Siberian region of Yakutia. The authorities declared an "interregional state of emergency" on Saturday, August 13. According to the Federal Agency for Forestry (Rosleskhoz), since the start of 2021, fires have destroyed more than seven million hectares (about 17.3 million acres) of forest - an area the size of Ireland or Georgia. NASA said that at the beginning of August, smoke from Yakutia's wildfires reached the North Pole. Earlier this month, photographer Denis Sinyakov spent several days in Yakutia's Ust-Aldansky District alongside the people who are charged with fighting the forest fires - the smokejumpers from the Aerial Forest Protection Service (Avialesokhrana). Meduza shares Denis Sinyakov's photographs and recollections here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/16/every-summer-the-forest-burns
On August 9, 2020, Belarusians went to the polls to choose a president. According to official data, Alexander Lukashenko won in a landslide, receiving more than 80% of the vote. After the results were announced, people came out to protest in unprecedented numbers - the protest march in Minsk alone had hundreds of thousands of participants. Soon after, however, the government cracked down on dissent. The authorities have prosecuted thousands of protesters, and continue to send people to penal colonies under absurd charges, though the protests themselves ended long ago. To learn more about the dramatic changes Belarus has undergone as a result of the protests, Meduza turned to the protesters themselves. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/16/now-there-s-no-fear-just-sadness
In recent years, there has been a growing number of artistic ventures about the lives of LGBTQ+ people in Russia. One of them is the art project PASHA. Though he doesn't reveal his real name or the details of his biography, the artist behind the project regularly publishes new works on Instagram under the handle @go_pasha_go. The account's bio describes the author as an "Anonymous Artist. Born gay in the Soviet Union, living gay in Russia." And his works range from collages of Soviet politicians and Disney characters alongside homophobic slurs, to anonymized self-portraits, and a combination "LGBT USSR" flag. Meduza sits down with the author of the art project PASHA to find out the story behind these works. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/17/born-gay-in-the-soviet-union-living-gay-in-russia
Late on August 17, police officers across Moscow visited dozens of Alexey Navalny's former supporters whose personal information has leaked online in recent months. According to the human rights project OVD-Info, at least 170 people have heard from the authorities in the past 24 hours. Officials are reportedly singling out those who either registered with Navalny's team for protests in April, signed up for Navalny's "Smart Vote" strategic voting platform, or donated money at some point to the Anti-Corruption Foundation. Hackers previously stole and released these people's personal data, and the police are now asking victims to press charges against Navalny's team for mishandling their information. Meduza special correspondent Kristina Safonova spoke to several of the people visited by the authorities. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/18/knock-knock
Officials in Russia are expelling Afghan nationals who arrived in the country before the Taliban took power in Afghanistan, says a new report from the Russian BBC. In one case in July, officials in the Leningrad region deported a 12-year-old girl and her family members, who had fled Afghanistan after the Taliban tried to force the child into a marriage. Several other Afghan nationals are in custody after being arrested at the St. Petersburg Interior Ministry while attempting to apply for asylum. Many of the detainees arrived in Russia during the Euro 2020 soccer championship earlier this summer. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/18/the-police-were-waiting-for-us-with-handcuffs
In the early 1990s, Artem Chernov was studying physics at Moscow State University and simultaneously taking photography courses at the Union of Journalists of the USSR. When a coup attempt began in Moscow on August 19, 1991, Chernov packed his bag with his camera and film and headed to the White House. Years later, the photographer compiled his snapshots of these events into a book titled, "Three Days at the End of the History Textbook. August 1991." To mark the thirtieth anniversary of the attempted August Coup, Meduza's photo editors selected the most important photographs from Artem Chernov's book and asked the photographer to tell the stories behind them. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/19/we-understood-that-the-system-was-dead
The August Putsch, as it's known in Russia, began 30 years ago. On August 19, 1991, a group of senior state officials launched an attempt to seize control of the USSR, deploying troops to Moscow, which led to a confrontation at Russia's White House. The coup's failure doomed the Soviet Union, which collapsed before the end of the year. By 2016, almost half of Russians didn't even remember the events of August 1991. In light of the public's fading knowledge, Meduza answers a few important questions that many people are now too embarrassed to ask. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/20/questions-about-the-failed-1991-soviet-coup-that-you-re-too-embarrassed-to-ask
Russian courts handed down sentences to two more defendants in the so-called "Sanitary Case," on Friday August 6. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/06/oleg-navalny-handed-one-year-suspended-sentence-in-the-sanitary-case
The website Genius - one of the world's largest collections of song lyrics - is once again accessible in Russia. The federal censor, Roskomnadzor (RKN), lifted restrictions on the site after it deleted the lyrics of banned songs. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/06/roskomnadzor-unblocks-genius-website-after-it-removes-banned-songs
A court in Korneuburg, Austria, has sentenced 48-year-old Sarali Akhtaev to life in prison after finding him guilty of the murder of Chechen blogger Mamikhan Umarov. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/06/austrian-court-sentences-chechen-gunrunner-to-life-in-prison-for-kadyrov-critic-s-murder
Greco-Roman wrestler Zhan Beleniuk won Ukraine's first gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics on August 4. The 30-year-old Kyiv native, who became Ukraine's first Black lawmaker in 2019 and was subsequently sanctioned by Russia, celebrated his win with a traditional folk dance. Beleniuk took home a silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 and has won both European and world championships multiple times. However, in conversation with journalists after his win, the wrestler revealed that he almost didn't compete in Tokyo after sustaining a shoulder injury three weeks before the start of the games. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/06/meet-zhan-beleniuk
On August 5, CNN released a report on a "possible prison camp for political dissidents" located outside of Minsk. The Belarusian government didn't respond to requests for comment prior to publication, CNN said. But on August 6, both Belarusian state television and the Defense Ministry denounced the article as "fake news." Defense officials maintained that the site is the location of an arms depot for the Belarusian air defense forces, which was built in the 1950s. The independent news outlet Zerkalo.io also reported that CNN's article got "everything" wrong. That said, opposition activists in Belarus have previously warned that the Lukashenko regime may try to construct prison camps. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/06/every-child-in-novokolosovo-knows
In late July, the Belarusian authorities shut down 50 nonprofit organizations simultaneously, targeting human rights activists, as well as environmental, educational, and cultural groups. Dozens of other organizations are facing liquidation, but their members continue working despite police raids and criminal cases. Dictator Alexander Lukashenko (Alyaksandr Lukashenka) has openly accused human rights defenders, journalists, and environmentalists of organizing opposition protests - and even boasted to Vladimir Putin that his regime has started "actively" targeting civil society organizations and independent media. Meduza looks into why the Belarusian authorities are still carrying out large-scale repressions, despite the fact that there haven't been mass protests in Belarus for some time now. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/05/in-belarus-it-s-dangerous-to-be-human
In July, the Federal Security Service (FSB) published a draft order outlining what kinds of information could be used to "threaten the security of the Russian Federation." This document is also meant to explain in which circumstances Russian citizens and foreign nationals are expected to self-report to the Justice Ministry and register as "foreign agents." Failure to comply with these rules risks felony charges. Meduza breaks down what's required here and what's at stake for potential "foreign agents." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/05/a-new-kind-of-foreign-agent
A Moscow court has refused an appeal against the decision to designate Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (the FBK) as an "extremist organization" and ban its activities in Russia. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/04/moscow-court-refuses-to-overturn-team-navalny-s-extremism-designation
Prosecutors in the so-called "Sanitary Case" have asked for a one-year suspended sentence with a three-year probationary period for Oleg Navalny, MBK Media reported on August 4, citing his lawyer Nikos Paraskevov. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/04/prosecutors-in-the-sanitary-case-seek-one-year-suspended-sentence-for-oleg-navalny
Two news outlets and a human rights rights group linked to exiled former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky have announced that they are shutting down following the Russian federal censor's decision to add their websites to the government's blocklist. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/05/open-media-mbk-media-and-pravozashchita-otkrytki-shut-down-citing-risks-for-staff
Election officials in Murmansk have refused to register opposition politician Violetta Grudina as a candidate in the upcoming elections. Grudina, who was formerly the head of Alexey Navalny's Murmansk campaign office, said the election commission cited her links to Team Navalny as the grounds for rejecting her candidacy. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/05/murmansk-election-officials-reject-violetta-grudina-s-candidacy-due-to-links-to-team-navalny
The trial of Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova (Maryia Kalesnikava) began in Minsk on Wednesday, August 4. Along with opposition lawyer Maxim Znak, she stands accused of calling for actions that threatened the national security of Belarus. The exact content of the charges remains unknown and the trial is taking place behind closed doors. Before the start of the hearing on Wednesday, Maria Kolesnikova danced inside the courtroom cage and made a heart sign with her hands - one of the symbols of the opposition movement. The independent Russian television network Dozhd interviewed Kolesnikova ahead of her trial. Here's what she said, in brief. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/04/tearing-up-my-passport-was-the-right-decision
A Moscow court has fined Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (the FBK) for failing to include "foreign agent" disclaimers on its website "ECHR Search." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/03/navalny-s-anti-corruption-foundation-fined-over-lack-of-foreign-agent-disclaimers
The St. Petersburg branch of the Russian Justice Ministry is taking the city's bar chamber to court over its refusal to take disciplinary action against prominent human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/03/justice-ministry-takes-st-petersburg-bar-association-to-court-over-its-refusal-to-expel-prominent-lawyer-ivan-pavlov
American national Paul Whelan, who is serving a 16-year sentence in Russia on espionage charges, hasn't been in touch with his family or the U.S. Embassy in more than four weeks, his lawyer Olga Karlova told Interfax. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/08/03/lawyers-say-paul-whelan-american-national-jailed-in-russia-hasn-t-been-heard-from-in-a-month
A year after protests swept Belarus and nearly forced long-time ruler Alexander Lukashenko from office, the nation's politics has followed Belarusian athletes to Tokyo. On August 1, Krystsina Tsimanouskaya appealed directly to the Japanese police at Haneda Airport and asked for help from the International Olympic Committee, saying that she was being forced suddenly onto a flight bound for Minsk. The 24-year-old sprinter says the pressure started after she criticized Belarusian sports officials for deciding without her knowledge that she would run a relay race for which she hadn't trained, in order to fill in for a disqualified team member. In a message shared on social media, Tsimanouskaya said she now fears criminal prosecution if she returns to Belarus. International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams later told journalists that Tsimanouskaya is being protected by the Japanese authorities. The U.N. refugee agency is reportedly involved in her case, and both the Czech Republic and Poland say they are ready to offer the Belarusian Olympian a visa. According to the BBC, Tsimanouskaya is now considering seeking asylum in Europe. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/02/that-s-how-suicide-cases-end-up
In an exclusive interview with talk show host Vladimir Solovyov, the Director of Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (the SVR) Sergey Naryshkin claimed that a number of independent Russian news outlets are part of a "network" allegedly linked to Western intelligence services via the investigative outlet Bellingcat. Naryshkin also reiterated claims that the August 2020 poisoning of opposition politician Alexey Navalny was orchestrated by the West, and said that the SVR is anticipating "new provocations" in the lead up to Russia's fall elections. Meduza summarizes Sergey Naryshkin's "Solovyov Live" interview here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/02/you-can-t-trust-them
After months spent under house arrest and restrictive pre-trial measures, Russian opposition politician Lyubov Sobol was given a 1.5-year parole-like sentence on August 3, as part of the so-called "Sanitary Case." State investigators launched the criminal case against Sobol and nine other well-known activists and politicians back in January, in connection with a demonstration in support of jailed opposition leader Alexey Navalny. According to the investigation, the defendants in the case called on Navalny's supporters to attend the rally and thereby incited violations of public health regulations amid the coronavirus pandemic. Sobol's lawyer says his client - who is already on probation in connection with a felony trespassing case - plans to challenge the verdict. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/03/restricted-freedom
Ukrainian police have opened a murder investigation after finding missing Belarusian activist Vital Shyshou hanged in a Kyiv park on the morning of August 3. Shyshou, who left Belarus in the fall of 2020, was reported missing a day earlier after he went out for a morning jog and never returned. Ukrainian police suspect his death was a suicide or a murder framed as suicide. However, Shyshou's colleagues and loved ones believe he was killed. Fellow activists from the NGO "Belarusian House in Ukraine" (BDU), which Shyshou founded to help Belarusians fleeing political persecution, said that his face showed signs of having been beaten. BDU also said that sources in Kyiv and Belarus told its members about a network of Belarusian KGB agents allegedly working in Ukraine, and warned about the possibility of "kidnappings and liquidations." A week before his death, Vital Shyshou noticed that he was being followed and asked friends to "take care" of his loved ones. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/08/03/he-had-a-bad-feeling
Russia's federal censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, has ordered YouTube to block Alexey Navalny's popular channel "Navalny Live." This was reported by the channel's producer, Lyubov Sobol - in a YouTube video. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/30/russia-s-federal-censor-orders-youtube-to-block-navalny-live
Russia's federal censor, Roskomnadzor, has restricted access to the website for the Dossier Center - an investigative-journalism nonprofit founded by exiled former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/30/russia-blocks-website-for-khodorkovsky-s-dossier-center
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree on establishing an interdepartmental commission for historical education. This document was published on the government's legal information portal on Friday, July 30. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/30/putin-establishes-commission-for-historical-education-headed-by-ex-culture-minister-vladimir-medinsky
Violetta Grudina used to lead Alexey Navalny's campaign office in Murmansk - before this opposition movement was outlawed as "extremist," that is. In the summer of 2021, she announced plans to put her name on the ballot for the upcoming City Council elections. Not long after, the authorities opened a criminal case against her, claiming that Grudina failed to fulfil quarantine requirements while recovering from the coronavirus in June. On top of that, in mid-July, Grudina was hospitalized by court order - despite the fact that she tested negative for COVID-19 and no longer had any symptoms. On July 26 - after almost two weeks in the hospital - the opposition politician announced a hunger strike. In conversation with Meduza, Violetta Grudina talks about her forced hospitalization, going on hunger strike, and why she's not giving up on running in the fall elections. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/30/i-want-to-show-i-m-not-afraid
Since the spring, hundreds of people from the Middle East and Africa have been entering Lithuania - all of them through Belarus. In fact, illegal border crossings have increased by a factor of 39 since last year. The Lithuanian government has toughened its residency laws, started constructing a new border fence, and accused Belarus of encouraging illegal migration; meanwhile, Alexander Lukashenko has tried to pin the blame on Western sanctions. Several media outlets - including the Lithuanian news sites 15min and LRT, as well as the Belarusian outlets Reform.by and Mediazona Belarus - have published in-depth reporting on the crisis, revealing how migrants get to Lithuania, who's helping them, and how much they pay for it. Meduza summarizes the findings of these investigations here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/30/flawed-from-a-human-rights-perspective
Alexander Bastrykin, the head of Russia's Federal Investigative Committee, has ordered an inquiry into the Moscow Sovremennik Theater following allegations that a new play is offensive to veterans (which is no longer protected speech in Russia). In a press statement on Thursday, the agency said Bastrykin's orders are related to complaints filed by "members of the public." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/29/federal-investigators-launch-probe-into-moscow-play-that-supposedly-offends-veterans
A Moscow court has refused to satisfy a request from prison officials to transfer Pussy Riot activist Maria Alyokhina from house arrest to a pre-trial detention center. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/29/moscow-court-refuses-prison-officials-request-to-jail-pussy-riot-activist-maria-alyokhina
A Russian justice of the peace has fined Google LLC three million rubles ($40,950) for refusing to localize Russian users' data on the territory of the Russian Federation. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/29/moscow-court-fines-google-for-refusing-to-localize-russian-users-data
Early on July 28, police officers raided the home of investigative journalist Roman Dobrokhotov, The Insider's creator and editor-in-chief. After searching his apartment, the officers escorted him to a local station for questioning about defamation charges filed back in April. For now, the authorities have named Dobrokhotov as a witness in their investigation. The available evidence suggests that the case's victims are "undetermined persons within the Russian Defense Ministry's Military Intelligence Directorate," as well as the Dutch blogger Max van der Werff, whom The Insider and Bellingcat investigated last November, finding that he coordinated his efforts with Russia's military intelligence to publicize "alternative narratives" about the causes of the July 2014 crash of MH17. This joint report (or rather, Dobrokhotov's tweet promoting the article) is what van der Werff calls defamation. Meduza explains how an amateur researcher went from exposing Dutch war crimes committed during Indonesia's decolonization to helping the Russian authorities cover up how a passenger plane crashed in Ukraine. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/29/the-flying-dutchman
Though it instituted the system supposedly to guard against foreign cyber-threats, the Russian government has reportedly started using new equipment to block mirror sites created to maintain access to Alexey Navalny's main website, which officials blocked earlier this week. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/28/russia-s-federal-censor-uses-internet-isolation-hardware-to-block-mirror-sites-to-alexey-navalny-s-domain
Russian opposition politician Lyubov Sobol says that the country's federal censor, Roskomnadzor, sent a notice to Twitter ordering the social network to block her account. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/28/roskomnadzor-orders-twitter-to-block-lyubov-sobol-s-account
The Moscow Arbitration Court has ordered the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta to delete an article by politician Leonid Gozman, reports the human rights group Pravozashchita Otkrytki. The article in question alleges that the state-owned television network Russia Today (RT) obtained wiretapped records of a phone conversation between Gozman himself and journalist Igor Yakovenko. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/28/moscow-court-satisfies-rt-host-s-lawsuit-against-novaya-gazeta-and-politician-leonid-gozman
The prosecution in the so-called "Sanitary Case" is seeking a two-year parole-like sentence for opposition politician Lyubov Sobol. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/28/prosecutors-in-the-sanitary-case-seek-two-years-restricted-freedom-for-lyubov-sobol
Russia's current election season has featured several unexpected announcements from celebrities that they, too, would like seats in the next State Duma. Political inspiration has struck (sometimes faded) stars like former t.A.T.u. singer Julia Volkova, rapper Slava KPSS, musicians Victoria Dayneko and Tatyana Bulanova, and entertainer and stylist Sergey Zverev, just to name a few. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/23/star-politics
Last week, Russian billionaire Arkady Rotenberg's ex-wife Natalia reported that "radical terrorists from Chechnya" seized her villa in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat (a charming little corner of the French Riviera). Officials in the area confirmed to a local newspaper that her police report is real. Natalia Rotenberg announced the incident in an Instagram post on July 15, saying, "On July 10, radical terrorists from Chechnya captured my villa in France. They kicked out my guards, seized the home, smashed and replaced the locks, and established a base there." She also shared several videos recorded on the villa's premises. Meduza breaks down how the Rotenbergs' divorce got ugly. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/27/radical-terrorists-from-chechnya
For many years, solitary pickets have been a cornerstone of public protest in Russia. Whereas protest rallies have long required official permission, holding a solo demonstration was, at one time, a legal way to publicly express one's discontent. Though the authorities began working to close this loophole following major protests in 2012, the crackdown on individual picketers reached its peak in 2020. Under the guise of combating the spread of COVID-19, the Russian authorities were able to effectively ban not only public gatherings, but also single-person pickets. Meduza breaks down how they did it here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/26/going-solo
Russia's widespread vaccine hesitancy has given birth to a thriving black market for counterfeit documents proving "immunity" to COVID-19. Since the start of 2021, the Russian authorities have opened dozens of criminal cases over the falsification of vaccination certificates, medical disqualification certificates, PCR test results, and even QR-codes. The cybersecurity firm Group-IB even declared the sale of fake vaccination certificates "the most widespread form of online fraud" in Russia during the pandemic. On July 27, MBK Media published an investigation into how the black market for forged medical certificates works, revealing that the organizers behind these schemes are allegedly making millions of rubles (sometimes in a matter of days). Meduza summarizes the investigation's main findings here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/27/there-s-a-lot-of-money-in-this-business
The Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF) says it's mobilizing supporters for nationwide protests against election officials' decision not to register the party's former presidential candidate, Pavel Grudinin, on its parliamentary ticket, this September. Last week, sources close to the Putin administration told Meduza that the Kremlin decided in advance to block Grudinin's candidacy this fall after KPRF head Gennady Zyuganov refused to coordinate with Putin's office. The Kremlin also holds a serious grudge against Grudinin for performing a little too well in Russia's 2018 presidential race. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/28/the-undesirable-candidate
Roman Dobrokhotov, the editor-in-chief of the investigative outlet The Insider, was reportedly planning to leave Russia on July 28. But at 7:30 in the morning, the police came knocking at his door. Law enforcement raided Dobrokhotov's apartment, seizing not only his electronic devices but also his international passport. The Insider believes the raid is in connection with a libel case initiated on behalf of Max van der Werff - a Dutch blogger who The Insider has linked to the Russian GRU. Roman Dobrokhotov's lawyer says the journalist is currently considered a witness in the case. The raid on Dobrokhotov's home comes less than a week after the Russian Justice Ministry designated The Insider as a "foreign agent." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/28/the-police-are-knocking
Alexander Ionov, the founder of the Anti-Globalization Movement of Russia, has filed a complaint against the investigative journalism outlet iStories with the Russian Attorney General's Office. Ionov told MBX Media that he reported iStories to the Russian authorities because the outlet has allegedly been the recipient of foreign funds. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/22/alexander-ionov-reports-istories-to-the-russian-authorities-over-alleged-foreign-funding
Hours after the newspaper Vedomosti published an op-ed by imprisoned journalist Ivan Safronov, the page hosting his text suddenly became inaccessible. Not long thereafter, Vedomosti's entire website crashed. According to communications director Guzel Khairetdinova, the newspaper is under DDoS attack. She told Meduza that the attack is targeting Vedomosti's entire website, not just a single text. "The whole site is down and our technical team is doing everything it can to restore it," she explained. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/23/russian-newspaper-s-website-crashes-after-publishing-op-ed-from-journalist-charged-with-treason
State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin is making billions of rubles off of hidden business interests, says a new investigation from Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (the FBK). In particular, the report traces a number of companies back to Volodin's relatives, as well as expensive properties in Moscow, the Moscow region, and Saratov. The FBK also tallies up Volodin's regular trips from the Russian capital to his home region on a super-expensive jet owned by the presidential administration. Meduza summarizes the investigation here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/22/the-state-duma-s-jet-setter
On July 9, 2020, the governor of Russia's Khabarovsk territory, Sergey Furgal, was detained outside of his home and taken to Moscow. There, he was interrogated and later jailed on charges of organizing multiple murders. The Russian Investigative Committee initially claimed to have "irrefutable evidence" of Furgal's involvement in the killings - but over a year later, they still haven't been able to offer any proof. The case hearings, which sparked massive protests in Khabarovsk, are being held behind closed doors. Meduza has obtained case materials containing the testimonies at the center of the case against Furgal, and their authenticity has been verified by two sources familiar with the case. Meduza special correspondent Anastasia Yakoreva, who studied the case documents thoroughly, describes them here for the first time. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/22/if-only-he-d-stayed-out-of-politics
Russian officials have dismissed Meduza's recent joint investigation with Mediazona and Holod Media, which revealed that Russian health officials appear to have registered as many as 29 million suspected cases of COVID-19 - a number that's five times higher than what's reported in official statistics. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/22/russian-officials-dismiss-meduza-investigation-on-underreporting-of-covid-19-statistics
A Moscow court has jailed Pussy Riot activist Rita Flores for 15 days, the news outlet Open Media reported on Thursday, July 22. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/22/pussy-riot-activist-rita-flores-jailed-for-15-days
When is corruption enough to warrant felony prosecution? The Russian Attorney General's Office says a businessman in St. Petersburg overcharged the Federal Protective Service vast sums of money for construction work and used the cash to build a multipurpose sea cargo complex. Last month, in a Civil Code ruling, a Moscow court ordered the state to seize the port as public property from its new owners: the families of two former senior security officials. RBC reporter Margarita Alekhina took a long, hard look at the case materials behind the court order. Meduza summarizes what she found. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/22/bronka-bros
YouTube has blocked an investigation about the head of Russia's tourism agency released by Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (the FBK) earlier this month, MBX Media reported on July 21. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/21/youtube-blocks-fbk-investigation-about-russian-tourism-agency-head
On July 21, Moscow police arrested Pussy Riot member Rita Flores outside her home. According to preliminary reports, she has been taken to a police station. The reason for her detention has yet to be disclosed. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/21/moscow-police-arrest-another-pussy-riot-activist-days-after-her-colleagues-fled-the-country-citing-persecution
In his 27 years as President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (Alyaksandr Lukashenka) has held two referendums on amending the constitution. And in the aftermath of last year's highly contested presidential election, he's gearing up for another constitutional ballot in 2022. Since March, a newly created Constitutional Commission has been working on proposed amendments to Belarus's basic law. According to the commission's head, Constitutional Court Chairman Pyotr Miklashevich, they're going to send their list of ideas to Lukashenko tomorrow (July 22). Meduza summarizes the proposed amendments here. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/21/third-time-s-a-charm
For more than a year, Russia nationals residing in New Zealand have been unable to renew their expired passports. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed to Novaya Gazeta that at least 700 people are currently facing this issue. Without valid passports, Russians living in New Zealand can't renew their visas, apply for jobs, buy houses, or travel anywhere other than Russia. But amid the coronavirus pandemic, Moscow simply isn't sending any new travel documents. According to Foreign Ministry protocol, new passports can only be delivered by diplomatic couriers - who have stopped traveling to New Zealand due to its mandatory two-week quarantine policy. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/21/only-russia-has-this-problem
On July 19, the Liberal Mission Foundation published an assessment of how Russia has handled the coronavirus pandemic, analyzing the government's actions and the public's response. Most controversially, the report's authors argue that Russia could have avoided roughly 220,000 deaths if officials imposed a second lockdown. Meduza reviews how researchers came to this alarming conclusion. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/21/the-cost-of-stability
Maxim Reznik, a prominent opposition politician in St. Petersburg, who is currently under house arrest, has announced that he will not be running for re-election to the city's legislative assembly in the fall. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/20/st-petersburg-deputy-maxim-reznik-calls-off-re-election-campaign-due-to-house-arrest
Journalists from MBX Media have published an investigation into a major construction site near Novo-Ogaryovo, Vladimir Putin's official residence on the outskirts of Moscow. Work on the project, which experts estimate could cost 20-50 billion rubles (about $269-672 million), reportedly began in the summer of 2020. The property in question is now home to two massive guest houses, as well as a wellness center and a sports complex, which allegedly includes an underground tunnel that connects directly to Putin's estate. Journalists uncovered the site after construction began on a bridge across the Moskva River, just a stone's throw away from the presidential residence. According to MBX Media, the Russian Secret Service (the FSO) is responsible for both the construction site and the bridge. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says "there are no construction projects at Novo-Ogaryovo." Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/20/nothing-to-see-here
Until recently, the Telegram channel and chat room "Eye of God" was one of the Russian Internet's main data-leak hubs, indexing services that allowed lawbreakers to gain access to private personal and corporate information sold by insiders abusing their privileges at work. In early July 2021, however, Eye of God suddenly disappeared from Telegram after a court order based on a complaint filed by Russia's federal censor, RKN, which argued that the channel violates privacy rights. The authorities have blocked other platforms like this, but RKN's campaign against the black market for personal data didn't begin in earnest until after researchers at Bellingcat used leaked records from the Federal Security Service to tie the agency to the attempt on Alexey Navalny's life. Russia's intelligence agencies "fear the Novichok stuff like Woland and Voldemort combined," says Evgeny Antipov, who created Eye of God. Meduza special correspondent Lilia Yapparova asked Antipov about the legality of his project, how Eye of God managed to track both FSB agents and journalists, how he collected several dozen state certificates, and whether he monitors his own clients for the police. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/19/the-brain-behind-russia-s-eye-of-god
August 2021 should have marked the seventh anniversary of Team 29 - an independent association of lawyers, attorneys, and journalists known for tackling some of Russia's most hopeless human rights cases. But on July 18, the group announced it was disbanding to protect its members and supporters from criminal prosecution. The shutdown came just days after Russia's censorship agency blocked Team 29's website for allegedly publishing content from an "undesirable organization." In a statement, Team 29 said that they couldn't ignore the risks associated with continuing their work and that going forward, their lawyers will defend clients in an exclusively personal capacity. In conversation with Meduza, now-former Team 29 member Evgeny Smirnov said that he and his colleagues have long been a "bone in throat" of the Russian authorities. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/19/we-re-like-a-bone-in-their-throat
A strange facility now lies in ruins outside St. Petersburg. Until bulldozers arrived on Monday, July 19, a compound 44 kilometers (27 miles) from the city concealed an abandoned private prison with three cells, a guard station, and a furnace that may have served as a crematorium. Viktor Smirnov and Andrey Karov, two local journalists from 47news, say they learned about the site through a tip "from some migrant worker." Meduza summarizes what they found underground. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/19/we-still-haven-t-ruled-out-aliens
Six months ago, on January 17, 2021, opposition politician Alexey Navalny returned to Russia and was immediately arrested at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. Russian prison authorities accused him of violating probation while in Germany (where he spent about five months recovering from an assassination attempt) and a Moscow court incarcerated him under a reinstated sentence on February 2. Over the next several months, the Russian authorities destroyed Navalny's political and anti-corruption movement and launched an all-encompassing campaign of repressions against activists, human rights defenders, and independent journalists. Meduza looks back at the key moments in this crackdown. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/20/how-we-got-here
Journalists from the outlet Proekt, whose publisher, the American company "Project Media, Inc.," was banned in Russia as an "undesirable organization," have promised to continue their investigative work. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/16/proekt-journalists-cut-ties-with-banned-publisher-promise-to-continue-investigative-work
Russia's federal censorship agency, Roskomnadzor, has ordered Internet providers to block access to the "Team 29" website. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/16/roskomnadzor-blocks-team-29-website-in-russia
In the late 2000s, Ranetki was one of the most popular pop-rock groups in Russia. Their concerts drew thousands of fans and an eponymous series based on their lives had a prime-time slot on the television network STS. But as their popularity gradually faded, Ranetki fell apart. In June 2021, one of the girl group's original members, Zhenya Ogurtsova, published a memoir titled "Ranetki: A Winning Ticket to Hell." In her book, Ogurtsova talks about the psychological pressure and harassment that she and her bandmates (who were minors at the time) were subjected to at the hands of various producers and other people from their "management team." Other former Ranetki members have also confirmed that they suffered emotional and sexual abuse during that time. Meduza spoke with Zhenya Ogurtsova about the harassment the group members faced and why she decided to finally speak out about it. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/16/back-then-i-was-silent
Since July 8, the authorities in Belarus have been carrying out a renewed wave of mass repressions. The security forces have conducted dozens of raids and arrests targeting human rights activists and journalists. Some of the detainees are facing multiple felony charges on accusations ranging from rioting to tax evasion. To find out what lies behind the latest phase of this prolonged crackdown (and if Vladimir Putin has anything to do with it) Meduza spoke to Belarusian political analyst Artyom Shraibman. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/16/then-came-the-counter-revolution
In late June, the Russian grocery store chain VkusVill put out an advertisement featuring a lesbian couple as part of its "Recipes for Family Happiness" campaign. The ad set off an avalanche of homophobic comments and threats against the company, and VkusVill soon announced it would delete the ad, calling it "a mistake that occurred as a result of some individual employees' unprofessionalism." This sparked another wave of criticism on social media, as people accused the chain of cowardice and hypocrisy. Throughout the debate, however, there's been almost no mention of the difficulties same-sex couples in Russia actually face. To learn more about what life is like for same-sex parented families in Russia, Meduza spoke to Yana and Yaroslava, two women in a loving relationship who are now raising a child together. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/17/third-class-citizens
The Moscow Arbitration Court has fully satisfied Rosneft's claim against the investigative outlet IStories and journalist Roman Shleynov. This was confirmed by the case card on the court's website on July 15. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/15/rosneft-wins-lawsuit-against-istories-for-pirelli-article
Russian street artist Konstantin Benkovich has launched an auction on social media in support of Meduza. Up for sale is a one-of-a-kind art piece: the Meduza logo with the head of a snake, made from welded steel bars and painted gold (its dimensions are 79 x 56 x 3.2 cm, or 31 x 22 x 1.26 inches). Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/16/russian-street-artist-konstantin-benkovich-auctions-off-art-piece-in-support-of-meduza
Overnight on July 14-15, a banner featuring drawings of journalists, politicians, and human rights activists murdered in Russia from 2006 to 2015 appeared on the side of a transformer vault in St. Petersburg's Pushkarsky Garden, reports the news site ZakS.ru. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/15/heroes-of-days-gone-by
On July 13, Ukraine's top police official, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, filed a letter of resignation. On July 15, the Ukrainian parliament supported his decision to step down. Avakov assumed office seven years ago, immediately after the end of the Euromaidan Revolution in February 2014. He remained interior minister throughout President Petro Poroshenko's entire term (2014-2019) despite repeated shuffles in the cabinet. Avakov held on to his position even under President Volodymyr Zelensky, who initiated a radical renewal of government personnel. Although Avakov is extremely unpopular in Ukraine, Zelensky has still said that "there's no better minister." Meduza explains why. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/15/the-powerful-and-unpopular
The Russian Attorney General's Office decided to ban the investigative news outlet Proekt after receiving a complaint from a concerned citizen named Vitaly Borodin, according to the website Baza, which published a copy of the letter to Attorney General Igor Krasnov. In his complaint, Borodin cites an article published by Russia Today that claims Proekt is supposedly "funded" by the U.S. Congress and under its "control." He also listed the names of nine Proekt reporters "on the take" in America and asked why they weren't already designated as "foreign agents." Meduza explains who this man is. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/16/just-peace-and-quiet
The Russian Attorney General's Office has designated the investigative news outlet Proekt as an "undesirable" organization, outlawing its operations in Russia. Just as the decision was announced, Justice Ministry officials added five of Proekt's journalists (as well as another three reporters from other news organizations) to Russia's "foreign agents" registry. Meduza breaks down what this means for Proekt, its audience, and the country's news media broadly. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/16/outlaw-journalism
The Russian Investigative Committee has dropped the "Sanitary Case" charges against municipal deputy Konstantin Yankauskas, his lawyer informed Mediazona on July 14. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/14/russian-investigators-drop-sanitary-case-charges-against-municipal-deputy-konstantin-yankauskas
Russia's Central Election Commision (CEC) has decided to restrict access to online broadcasts from polling stations for the September elections. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/14/russian-election-officials-restrict-access-to-polling-station-live-streams-for-fall-vote
A district court in Murmansk has ordered the forced hospitalization of Violetta Grudina, the former head of Alexey Navalny's local campaign office, who is currently running for City Council. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/14/murmansk-court-orders-forced-hospitalization-of-opposition-candidate-violetta-grudina
The Belgorod region has the highest coronavirus vaccination rate in Russia - nearly 35 percent of the population, more than half a million people, have received their first dose. By comparison, even Moscow and the Moscow region are lagging behind, with just over 25 percent of their residents vaccinated against COVID-19. What's more, unlike other parts of the country, the Belgorod region didn't make vaccination against the coronavirus mandatory. How did they convince so many people to get the jab? Meduza discovered that the key to the Belgorod region's success is a measure the local authorities aren't advertising: making additional payments to local doctors for every vaccination. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/14/a-powerful-motivational-lever
"Ukrainians and Russians are generally one people," Vladimir Putin proclaimed during his annual call-in show at the end of June. About two weeks later, the Kremlin published an article authored by the Russian president titled "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians" (it's now available in Russian, Ukrainian, and English, but you can just read our summary here). In his essay, Putin claims that modern Ukraine is a product of the Soviet era, but he also stretches his argument back to the Middle Ages. For some perspective on Putin's take, Meduza asked professional historians from Russia and Ukraine to weigh in on the roots of his views. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/15/this-isn-t-an-argument-about-the-past
Oppositionist Ilya Yashin has resigned from his post as head of the council of deputies for Moscow's Krasnoselsky municipal district. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/12/opposition-politician-ilya-yashin-steps-down-as-district-council-head-citing-pressure-from-prosecutors
The Russian government's online hub for the pandemic, stopkorona.rf, has stopped publishing statistics on the number of active coronavirus cases across the country. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/13/russia-s-pandemic-website-stops-reporting-number-of-active-coronavirus-cases
A trade union representing transport workers in Moscow has announced plans to file a class-action lawsuit against their employers for suspending unvaccinated drivers from work without pay. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/13/moscow-transport-workers-to-sue-employers-for-suspending-unvaccinated-drivers-without-pay
On Tuesday, July 13, Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko (Alyaksandr Lukashenka) for the fourth time this year. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/news/2021/07/13/putin-and-lukashenko-talk-gas-prices-and-western-sanctions-during-fourth-meeting-of-2021
During a press conference on July 13, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commented on Vladimir Putin's controversial essay "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians." Poking fun at the fact that the Kremlin published the article in Ukrainian, Zelensky said he was surprised that the Russian president had time to write an in-depth historical article but not to meet with him. The Ukrainian president added that Kyiv may issue an official response to Putin's piece. Here's what Zelensky said, in a nutshell. Original Article: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/13/more-like-cain-and-abel
ARTICLE SOURCE: https://meduza.io/en/feature/2021/07/12/i-m-sure-i-ll-be-locked-up-in-a-hospital
SOURCE: During his annual call-in show on June 30, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to write an article to back up his much-touted claim that Ukrainians and Russians are "one people." As promised, on July 12, the Kremlin published Putin's take "On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians." In an essay that spans the Middle Ages to the present day, Putin touches on everything from the Mongol invasion to the collapse of the Soviet Union and more. In addition to claiming that modern Ukraine is the "brainchild" of the Soviet era, Putin blames the West and Ukrainian elites for allegedly working to turn the country into an "anti-Russia." Despite Putin's repeated claims about Russian and Ukrainian being "almost identical," the Kremlin chose to publish his essay in both languages. Meduza summarizes Putin's "historical article" here.
In the past few days, the leaders of the Russian democratic opposition party Yabloko have deliberately alienated Alexey Navalny's followers. The party's founder and chief authority, Grigory Yavlinsky, recently spoke to the independent television network Dozhd and said plainly, "We aren't going to pursue Navalny's politics, and we aren't inviting his supporters onto our party lists. Those who want to vote for Navalny needn't vote for us." Not long before these remarks, Yabloko's party congress blocked an initiative by its Moscow bureau to nominate Oleg Stepanov (Navalny's former Moscow office coordinator) in the upcoming State Duma elections. The party also rejected a motion to nominate former political prisoner and Lyubov Sobol volunteer Alexey Minyailo. At the same time, Yabloko endorsed the candidacy of Andrey Pivovarov, the jailed former head of the Open Russia movement. "This is a humanitarian step in support of a political prisoner, but we understand that he won't be waging any kind of campaign from pretrial detention," clarified the party's deputy director, Ivan Bolshakov. Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev spoke to Yabloko chairman Nikolai Rybakov about why the party decided to dissociate itself so strongly from Alexey Navalny, whom it considers to be its allies today, and how it expects to do in Russia's September parliamentary elections.
In the face of pressure from the authorities, the most prominent independent media outlet in Belarus, Tut.by, ceased operating in mid-May. On top of blocking Tut.by's website and freezing its company bank account, the Belarusian authorities detained a number of its staff and initiated a felony tax evasion case against the publication's leadership. Despite the persecution, some of Tut.by's journalists and managers were able to flee Belarus. Now they're spread out around the world, living in countries from Ukraine to the United States. On July 8, the Tut.by team launched a new media outlet - Zerkalo.io - to hold their publication's place until it can resume working in Belarus. To find out more about this new venture, Meduza spoke to Zerkalo.io's acting editor-in-chief, Anna Kaltygina, and manager Sasha Pushkina. All of the outlet's other employees preferred not to reveal their identities for security reasons.
The crackdown on the independent media in Belarus shows no sign of stopping. On July 8, police raided the newsroom of the prominent online newspaper Nasha Niva and the homes of its journalists. Officers detained editor-in-chief Yahor Martsinovich and several Nasha Niva journalists have been unable to reach colleagues. Earlier in the day, the Belarusian Information Ministry said the news outlet's website had been blocked. (At the time of this writing, it was inaccessible to readers both in Belarus and abroad.)
The Russian authorities are "fighting statistics instead of problems," says the investigative outlet Proekt in a new report. Under pressure from the Kremlin, the government, and regional leaders, the Federal Statistics Service (Rosstat) has bent over backward to correct "bad" numbers and bury unflattering statistics. According to Proekt's sources, the Kremlin and the Cabinet also made a conscious decision to publish official data not only as rarely as possible, but also at the most inconvenient times. Meduza summarizes the story here.
Thanks to numerous journalistic investigations (such as Proekt's recent profile of Russia's top cop, Vladimir Kolokoltsev) the private life of the Russian state has long ceased to be a secret. We see that Russian officials live a double life - they present themselves to the public as ordinary civil servants, while hiding their economic interests. We know that journalists who shed light on this, as well as opposition figures, may become victims of persecution and may even face attempts on their lives. But officially, Russia remains a democracy with separation of powers, political parties, and elections, and a government that fights against corruption and prides itself on economic stability. How does one live with the feeling that there's a huge gap between what's painted on the facade and what's happening behind it? And what kind of political regime has developed in this context? Meduza "Ideas" editor Maxim Trudolyubov grapples with the many labels used to describe Russia's political system.
Jailed former governor Sergey Furgal has added an eighth lawyer to his defense team. Dmitry Dovgy - a former senior investigator who was sent to prison in 2009 on bribery and abuse of office charges - officially joined the Furgal case during a closed-door remand hearing on July 5. Also during the hearing, the Moscow City Court extended Furgal's arrest until October 7. Dovgy told Meduza that he had to sign a non-disclosure agreement and will begin studying the case file soon. Here's what we know about the former Khabarovsk krai governor's newest lawyer.
A year ago today, on July 7, 2020, agents from Russia's Federal Security Service arrested 30-year-old Ivan Safronov on charges of treason - punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Then serving as an advisor to the head of Russia's space agency, Safronov worked for many years prior as a journalist at the newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti. Meduza reviews the developments in the case over the past 12 months and looks at how Safronov and his defense team have weathered a year of uncertainty.
On July 6, an Antonov An-26 passenger jet crashed in Russia's Kamchatka territory. The plane's communications cut out and it disappeared from radar while flying from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to the town of Palana. The plane left Elizovo Airport at 12:57 p.m., local time (8:57 p.m., the previous day, EDT), and should have landed in Palana, roughly two hours later. Flight control officials lost contact with the plane about 10 minutes before it was expected to land. The company that owns the plane says it disappeared about nine kilometers (about six miles) shy of Palana. The owners also say the aircraft, built in 1982, was in good condition.
At least 137 Russian tourists who arrived in Cuba between June 30 and July 3 were forced to quarantine in their hotel rooms after testing positive for COVID-19. As of July 5, at least 89 Russian nationals are still in isolation and awaiting the results of repeat PCR tests. However, many of the tourists aren't convinced that they actually have the coronavirus - while some tested negative prior to leaving Russia, others say they've been vaccinated against the disease. Meanwhile, the Russian Association of Tour Operators is telling travellers not to expect compensation for the inconvenience of having quarantine, because they were warned about Cuba's coronavirus regulations.
In the mid-2010s, young men from Chechnya - lured by the promises of recruiters from the Islamic State (commonly known as ISIS or ISIL) - began departing for Syria and Iraq en masse. They were followed abroad by their wives and children, who often didn't know their final destinations. As a special project for Meduza, photographer Sergey Stroitelev interviewed and photographed the mothers of Chechen women who are missing or imprisoned in the Islamic State's former territories. These mothers have spent years working to bring their daughters and grandchildren home to Russia. Here are their stories, in their own words.
On June 6, Russian opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov announced that he had fled to Ukraine. This came less than a week after he was detained as a suspect in a criminal case for alleged property damage; Gudkov was released from custody without charges on June 3. Sources close to the presidential administration told Meduza that the opposition politician was released due to pressure from the Moscow city government's political bloc. In turn, Gudkov told the media that he fled the country after his family was warned that he was still under criminal investigation and could face another arrest. Commenting on his decision to leave Russia, Gudkov said that the criminal case against him was intended to "push him out of the country" ahead of this September's parliamentary elections. That said, he has also underscored that his departure from Russia is temporary and that he plans to continue his involvement in politics while abroad.
As this fall's State Duma elections draw nearer, sources close to Putin's administration and the United Russia leadership are saying that Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president and prime minister, is set to head the ruling party's list. Though Medvedev has been United Russia's leading candidate in past parliamentary elections, his current political ratings are quite low. Be that as it may, sources told Meduza that after weighing a number of scenarios, the "party of power" concluded that Medvedev was the only viable option. At the same time, United Russia representatives, including Medvedev himself, have declined to comment on whether or not he'll be number one of the party's list - apparently, this question will be resolved at the United Russia congress in Moscow on June 19.
On the morning of June 8, the Leningrad region's governor announced that a municipality located about 30 kilometers from St. Petersburg was being put on high alert, due to a dispute involving radioactive waste. According to the district administration, the conflict arose after a local research center transferred part of its property to Russia's Federal Agency for State Property Management. Located on the grounds is a workshop housing more than a thousand cubic meters of solid radioactive waste. The research center now claims that it's no longer responsible for ensuring waste safety, though the transfer process for these radioactive "barrels" remains unclear. Government officials maintain that they are monitoring the situation and that background radiation levels in the surrounding area are within normal range.
The legal professionals at "Team 29" specialize in Russia's most hopeless political prosecutions - the treason case against journalist Ivan Safronov, the extremism charges against Alexey Navalny's anti-corruption movement, and dozens more cases like these that are all but doomed to convictions. As a result, the Russian authorities have effectively declared Team 29 to be enemies of the state. In late April, police charged the organization's head, Ivan Pavlov, with disclosing pretrial investigation secrets. Ever since, he's been barred from using the Internet or telephone. Meduza special correspondent Alexandra Sivtsova looks at how Team 29 manages to operate under these conditions and asks why it still does.
In late March, the television channels Dozhd and OstWest premiered the film "Survivors" ("Vyzhivshie" in Russian), a feature-length documentary about a group of young Russians exploring the stories of their family members who fell victim to Stalin's repressions. The documentary, which is now available on YouTube, was directed by Vladlena Savenkova - who previously shot true crime documentaries for the Russian media company Amurskie Volny and is now attending film school in Berlin. In conversation with Meduza, Savenkova spoke about filming "Survivors" and tried to explain why many people in Russia would rather not talk about Stalin's terror.
On June 9, Moscow recorded an increased number of coronavirus cases for the fourth day running. This spike in infections, which government sources tell Meduza was "unexpected," has led the city authorities to announce increased controls over sanitary measures, as well as plans to open several more COVID-19 hospitals in the coming days. That said, the Russian Health Ministry maintains that the recent jump in cases can't be considered "third wave." In addition, the Moscow authorities have no plans to reintroduce lockdown measures, despite the fact that the city's vaccination campaign against COVID-19 has all but come to a standstill.
Earlier this year, the Swiss authorities arrested a Russian national who faces insider-trading criminal charges in the United States. Vladislav Klyushin has now exhausted his legal options in Switzerland and could find himself extradited to Massachusetts soon. Back home in Russia, Klyushin owns a media-metrics business with several lucrative government contracts, including agreements to monitor the Internet for public attitudes about political issues. Meduza examines how one of the Kremlin's media whizzes ended up behind bars in the West.
The Russian justice system has outlawed Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, the Citizens' Rights Protection Foundation (both of which the Justice Ministry previously designated as "foreign agents"), and Navalny's nationwide network of campaign offices, designating all these groups as "extremist" organizations. The verdict takes effect in 30 days except in the unlikely event that defense attorneys succeed in challenging the ruling. Meduza reviews the criminal liability that now looms over Navalny's former employees, his supporters, and even journalists who reported on the movement's activities.
The day after it was outlawed as an "extremist" organization, Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (the FBK) has published a new investigative report on the jailed opposition politician's August 2020 poisoning. In addition to identifying the "most important" FSB operative involved in the attempt on Navalny's life, his team also gained access to medical records from a Russian hospital providing evidence to the fact that he was poisoned. According to the FBK, these medical documents are sufficient evidence for launching a criminal investigation in Russia - something the authorities claim there are no grounds for.
City officials in Lisbon are coming under fire after a group of activists who organized a pro-Navalny rally outside of the Russian Embassy earlier this year discovered that their personal details were shared with the Russian authorities. The activists found out via an email chain sent to them by the Portuguese Health Ministry that Lisbon City Council had passed their information to both Russia's diplomatic mission in Portugal and police officials in Moscow. Lisbon City Council has since issued an official apology and reportedly halted its "common practice" of sharing the personal details of activists who organize protests near embassies with foreign diplomats.
On June 11, the Russian LGBT Network informed Meduza that a Chechen domestic violence victim by the name Khalimat Taramova has been forcibly returned to Chechnya along with her girlfriend, Perm native Anna Manylova. The two women were arrested in neighboring Dagestan after local and Chechen police raided a crisis shelter where they were hiding. Local journalist and human rights activist Svetlana Anokhina was in the shelter at the time and told journalists about the incident as it was happening, up until police officers forcibly arrested her, as well, together with several other women. Taramova had reached out to the Russian LGBT Network for help fleeing Chechnya after suffering domestic abuse due to her sexual orientation. Chechen opposition Telegram channels say she's allegedly the daughter of a senior official in the region.
On June 10, the Latvian parliament voted to strip opposition lawmaker Janis Adamsons of his legal immunity, clearing the way for his arrest on suspicion of spying for Russia. The politician reportedly stands accused of gathering classified information and passing it to a foreign state. Adamsons, who served as Latvia's interior minister in the 1990s, is currently a member of the Social Democratic Party "Harmony," which enjoys the support of Latvia's Russian-speaking population. Though Adamsons denies any wrongdoing, government officials maintain that there is "serious evidence" to support the allegations against him. In turn, opposition forces have expressed concerns that Adamsons is being persecuted due to his outspoken criticism of the Latvian security forces.
With Alexey Navalny rotting in a prison cell and his national anti-corruption movement now banned in Russia, political analysts have been busy penning obituaries for the country's civics as we know it. The authorities have hardly concealed their hostility toward Navalny and his supporters, but this recent escalation has nevertheless prompted questions about the Kremlin's timing and reasoning for such drastic repressions. In an essay for Meduza, sociologist Konstantin Gaaze argues that the crackdown on Navalny's movement is both a calculated campaign and a fit of rage against a political competitor who overcame incredible odds to outperform the Putin administration.
On June 10, Dagestani police forced their way into a women's shelter in Makhachkala in search of Khalimat Taramova, a 22-year-old woman who had fled Chechnya after suffering domestic abuse because of sexual orientation. The local police were accompanied by unidentified men dressed in civilian clothing and camouflage - who appeared to be members of the Chechen security forces. The police detained most of the women inside of the shelter, with the exception of Taramova and her partner, Anna Manylova. Rights activists later confirmed that Taramova was forcibly returned to Chechnya. At Meduza's request, journalist Vladimir Sevrinovsky spoke to the activists who were inside the crisis shelter at the time of the police raid.
Political emigration in Russia has become increasingly common. Most recently, former State Duma deputy Dmitry Gudkov left the country after two days in jail. He has suggested that police planned to pursue a felony case against him if he remained in Russia. More and more independent politicians, activists, and journalists are fleeing to evade arrest or worse. Meduza spoke to a handful of these emigres about the new exodus and how they are adapting to life abroad.
During his daily press briefing on June 15, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the news that the independent television channel Dozhd had been removed from the presidential press pool. In response to questions from journalists about how this decision was made, Peskov insisted that the presidential press service opted to kick Dozhd out because the television channel allegedly incited and organized unauthorized protests. Following Peskov's briefing, Dozhd released a statement underscoring that it has never acted as a protest organizer and that its coverage of unsanctioned rallies is guided by Russian legislation.
In late May, the Russian authorities designated three German nonprofits as "undesirable organizations." Among other things, these groups helped people with disabilities, ran exchange programs for students, and contributed to Russia's political discourse. However, according to the Russian Attorney General's Office, their work posed a "threat to the constitutional order and security of the Russian Federation." Meduza breaks down the work these organizations did in Russia, their reactions to the designation, and how the decision to ban them will impact Russian citizens.
In mid-March, Moscow's Basmanny District Court arrested International Olympic Committee Executive Board member Alexey Vlasenko based on testimony from two previously detained businessmen. Two months later, the same court arrested Russian Industry and Trade Ministry deputy head Olga Pokidisheva and former head Olga Kolotilova on suspicion of fraud. The common thread between these people is Pharma 2020, a federal targeted program designed to import new medical technology into Russia that has brought just four medications to market, so far. Meduza special correspondents Svetlana Reiter and Ivan Golunov explain what happened when the Russian government decided to play venture capitalist.
On June 9, the Russian State Duma adopted a package of laws on countering "the infiltration of undesirable organizations into the Russian Federation" in their third and final reading. One of the bills in particular aims to combat the use of intermediaries for obtaining funds for "undesirable organizations." To achieve this goal, the authors of the bill chose the simplest possible method - tasking banks and other credit institutions with monitoring every single money transfer received by Russian citizens and organizations from an as of yet unspecified list of foreign countries. Meduza looks into how this new legislation threatens both banks and Russian citizens alike.
Moments before Vladimir Putin arrived in Geneva for a presidential summit with Joe Biden that has dominated Russian and international news coverage all week, officials in Moscow and the Moscow region announced a sweeping mandatory vaccination campaign for persons working in the public and service sectors. Over the past two weeks, the spread of the coronavirus in Russia has spiked again, rising from 9,000 daily cases to 14,000 new infections. In this span of time, the number of new cases in Moscow has more than doubled, forcing the city to announce another "non-working week" from June 12 to 20, returning restrictions on eateries. Despite these measures, Mayor Sobyanin has insisted that the capital will not impose another lockdown. Meduza breaks down Moscow's controversial new vaccine program.
On June 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a summit meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in Geneva. After about two hours of "constructive" talks, Putin gave a press conference where he told journalists that U.S. and Russian ambassadors will return to their posts and the two countries will hold consultations on cybersecurity. He also fielded questions about jailed Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny (without mentioning his name) and commented on violence perpetrated in the United States. Here's what Putin had to say, in a nutshell.
On June 16, officials in Moscow, the Moscow region, and later the Kemerovo region announced mandatory campaigns to vaccinate 60 percent of workers in the public and service sectors against COVID-19 by mid-August (employers will be responsible for making sure this happens). Officials maintained that without mandatory vaccination, it will be very difficult to cope with the increasing number of coronavirus cases. But are these campaigns lawful? And what are the legal consequences for refusing to get vaccinated? We asked two medical law experts to weigh in on these and other important questions.
Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have finally met, face to face, for the first time as presidents. The brief summit took place in Geneva on June 16 before each leader addressed reporters in separate press conferences. Putin told journalists that his conversation with Biden was "constructive," though he complained about violence on U.S. streets ("You can barely say a word there before you are shot in the face or in the back") and claimed that Alexey Navalny engineered his own arrest ("He did what he wanted to do"). The American president, meanwhile, said he seeks a "stable and predictable" relationship with Russia. He also warned that Russia's international reputation would suffer "devastating" damage if Navalny dies in prison. Meduza asked several experts to identify what they think are the summit's most important results and why.
Following United Russia's congress in Moscow on June 19, the ruling party confirmed its election list for the September 2021 State Duma election. The first five names were presented by President Vladimir Putin himself - and United Russia's chairman, former president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev, was noticeably absent from the list. Sources say that both Medvedev being left out and Putin making the announcement was a "humiliation" for the party chairman. Meduza special correspondent Andrey Pertsev breaks down the notable results of the ruling party's congress, including how the decision to exclude Medvedev was made.
On June 23, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that it fired "warning shots" and dropped bombs to deter a British Royal Navy destroyer, accusing the warship of violating Russia's state border in the Black Sea. In turn, the British authorities denied both of these claims, while maintaining that the ship, HMS Defender, was conducting "innocent passage through Ukrainian territorial waters" near the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula. The British Defense Ministry added that the crew had been made aware of Russian training exercises in the area. However, a BBC defense correspondent on board HMS Defender reported that there was firing, though it appeared to be out of range of the ship.
On June 21, the Russian Attorney General's Office declared the American liberal arts university Bard College an "undesirable organization." Bard has collaborated with St. Petersburg State University and Russia's Accounts Chamber Chairman Alexey Kudrin for many years, but the Attorney General's Office maintains that its "activity poses a threat to the basic constitutional order and security of the Russian Federation." Meduza digs into why Bard College was blacklisted as "undesirable" and uncovers what Alexander Ionov - the same man who demanded that Russia declare our media outlet a "foreign agent" - had to do with it.
The Russian authorities' designation of various nonprofit organizations, news outlets, and even individuals as "foreign agents" is part of a broader process that the state initiated long ago to reorder society. For years, officials in the government and law enforcement have meddled in the ownership of disobedient companies, swapped out elected politicians for political appointees, and tried to organize what once organized itself. Meduza "Ideas" editor Maxim Trudolyubov argues that the Russian authorities have effectively set out to make any grassroots enterprise a government department, hoping to transform the whole country into a managed administrative utopia.
Four Pussy Riot activists were handed 15-day jail sentences in Moscow on June 23, along with four of their friends. Meanwhile, another Pussy Riot member, Veronika Nikulshina, was already serving time on similar misdemeanor charges. All of the detainees were jailed for allegedly disobeying police officers or for minor hooliganism. According to police reports, and some of the activists themselves, they were arrested on suspicion of planning to carry out a protest action on June 22 - Russia's Day of Remembrance and Sorrow marking the anniversary of the Axis invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II. Meduza special correspondent Kristina Safonova looks into the sudden wave arrests targeting Pussy Riot activists and their friends, and finds holes in the official version of the story.
Against the backdrop of a spike in coronavirus cases, a number of Russian regions have begun to introduce mandatory vaccination in some form or another. Most of these campaigns target people working in the service, trade, healthcare, transport, and culture industries, as well as public officials. Many regions are aiming to vaccinate at least 60 percent of these workers against COVID-19 over the next few months or weeks. Meanwhile, on June 16, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman told reporters that there are no plans to introduce mandatory vaccination at the national level. Here are the Russian regions that have announced mandatory vaccination campaigns so far (Meduza plans to update this list).
Over the weekend, Moscow investigators separated a Chinese national from his one-year-old son born of a surrogate mother and charged the man with human trafficking. The child is now hospitalized. Mikhail Baklanov, the lawyer representing Liu Jun, says the authorities interrogated his client for 15 hours before they finally arrested him, despite a past court order that allows him to return with his son to China, where his wife awaits them both.
On June 28, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov published an opinion piece titled "The Law, Rights, and the Rules," in which he claimed that "in many Western countries, students learn at school that Jesus Christ was bisexual." By all appearances, Lavrov, or perhaps his aides, got this information from a popular video circulating on TikTok. The video, in which a mother listens in as her son argues that Jesus was bisexual and non-binary, has gained nearly 11 million views since it was uploaded in late May. Journalists from the Russian outlet It's My Media were the first to trace Lavrov's claims to the viral video.
Last week, election officials in Moscow refused to register opposition politician Ilya Yashin's candidacy in an upcoming by-election for the City Duma. He isn't alone: the authorities also rejected a candidacy bid for the State Duma by Oleg Stepanov, Alexey Navalny's former coordinator in Moscow. In both cases, officials cited a new law that prohibits anyone with recent connections to organizations designated as "extremist" (including Navalny's campaign offices and the Anti-Corruption Foundation) from running for elected office. While the new law's applicability is expansive, Meduza explains why it is nevertheless illegal at this time to bar the candidacies of Yashin and Stepanov.
Russian oligarch Evgeny Prigozhin filing a lawsuit against Meduza has given us access to notarized copies of old court rulings involving him. We acknowledge the error in our 2016 article (which did contain an incorrect assertion pertaining to Prigozhin's criminal record) and wish to correct it without making any claims about Prigozhin's honor, dignity, or professional reputation. As such, we're publishing a complete translation of the cassation court's ruling on Prigozhin's appeal against a verdict sentencing him to 13 years in a medium-security penal colony. This took place in 1981.
On the morning of June 29, Moscow police raided the homes of three journalists from the investigative outlet Proekt: editor-in-chief Roman Badanin, his first deputy Mikhail Rubin, and correspondent Maria Zholobova. After seizing their laptops, cell phones, flash drives, and SIM cards, the police took the journalists in for questioning. They were later released after being declared witnesses in a criminal libel case initiated in late 2017 at the request of businessman Ilya Traber - an alleged mobster from St. Petersburg, who's also a long-time acquaintance of Vladimir Putin. After leaving the interrogation, Roman Badnin told the press that the reason for the raids wasn't the Traber case, but rather an investigation that Proekt published that same day: a deep dive into the alleged family wealth of Russia's top police official, Vladimir Kolokoltsev (You can read Meduza's summary here). Meduza special correspondent Anastasia Yakoreva spoke with the three journalists about what the police were looking for, the questions they asked, and what Proekt plans to do next.
On June 28, the investigative news website Proekt announced its latest report: a deep dive into the personal history and family wealth of Russia's top cop, Vladimir Kolokoltsev. The next morning, police officers raided the homes of Maria Zholobova, the story's author, and Proekt editor-in-chief Roman Badanin. At Zholobova's home, officials detained Proekt deputy chief editor Mikhail Rubin, whose parents were also visited by the police on Tuesday. The authorities acted under the umbrella of a defamation case related to a documentary series that aired back in 2017 on the television network Dozhd, which Badanin and Zholobova co-created. Despite the raids, Proekt nevertheless released its new report about Kolokoltsev. Meduza summarizes it here.
Last year, President Vladimir Putin's annual call-in show was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. But on Wednesday, June 30, the "direct line" made its return to national television. Despite some technical hiccups, Putin answered questions from Russian residents for four hours straight. Meduza watched the whole thing and summed up Putin's most interesting remarks about vaccination against COVID-19, hyper-local issues, and his presidency, in a nutshell.
In a new investigative report published by Open Media, Ilya Rozhdestvensky profiles Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu's daughter Ksenia, who is just 30 years old but oversees billions of rubles in investments and youth programs. According to Open Media's findings, the entire Shoigu family leverages state funding and government connections in its business dealings. Meduza summarizes the story here.
Eight years ago yesterday, on June 30, 2013, Russia's "gay propaganda" law entered into force, banning the "promotion of non-traditional sexual relations" among minors. In spite of this legislation, LGBTQ+ people have become much more visible in Russian society in recent years and there's a lot more information in the public sphere about their lives and the difficulties they face. At the same time, state-sanctioned homophobia has intensified. LGBTQ+ Russians are regularly subjected to aggression, often incited by the authorities. Meduza breaks down the consequences of homophobia being made part of the Russian state's ideology.
In a new investigative report, Novaya Gazeta journalist Alexandra Dzhordzhevich examines how Russia's draft boards sometimes ignore conscription exceptions for university students, terrifying young people and sparking legal battles with schools. At the heart of these disputes is the summer break between undergraduate and graduate studies, known as "postgraduate holidays" in Russia, where the military drafts roughly 135,000 men between the ages of 18 and 27, every year from April 1 to July 15. Students rely on this vacation period to ward off eligibility for conscription in the summer, but Novaya Gazeta found that some draft boards pursue them, nevertheless. Meduza summarizes the story here.
The Russian State Duma's seventh convocation is coming to the end of its five-year term. And according to a new report from IStories and Znak.com, dozens of its deputies haven't said a word in a parliamentary session since they were elected in 2016. Others haven't put forward a single bill. Be that as it may, this hasn't stopped these lawmakers from collecting high salaries and planning to put their names on the ballot for the State Duma election coming up in September.
Yaroslav Kuzminov, the longtime head of Moscow's Higher School of Economics (HSE), has resigned, the news outlet RBC reported on Thursday. Sources told the news agency TASS that Kuzminov planned for some time to step down and recently informed the school's academic council about his decision, saying that he wants to focus on his own research. After nearly three decades on the job, Kuzminov leaves behind a legacy tainted by political controversy in recent years. Meduza breaks down how one of Russia's most prominent scholars ended his role at the nation's top-ranked university.
In June, Russians started receiving the CoviVac vaccine, the third COVID-19 vaccine registered in the country, which was developed by researchers at the Chumakov Research Center. CoviVac uses tried-and-true vaccine technology - it consists of an inactivated ("dead") virus and an immune stimulant. At the moment, doses are still hard to come by, but manufacturers promise to put a million doses into circulation by the end of June - and five to six million by the end of the year. To learn more about CoviVac, Meduza correspondents Svetlana Reiter and Alexander Yershov spoke to several Chumakov Research Center employees: Deputy Director for Quality and Innovation Alexandra Sinyugina, Deputy Director for Regulatory Issues Yekaterina Korduban, Innovative Biotechnical Medications Department Head Ilya Gordeichuk, and Department of Current and Newly Emerging Infections with Pandemic Potential Lyubov Kozlovskaya. Why did it take so long for CoviVac to reach the market? How does it differ from other COVID-19 vaccines? How sure are we that the virus in the vaccine is really "dead" and can't hurt people? And why do its developers think mandatory vaccinations are a good idea?
LGBTQ+ activists from Tbilisi Pride were forced to cancel a march planned for the evening of Monday, July 5, following violent attacks by counter demonstrators in the Georgian capital. In addition to physically assaulting journalists who had gathered ahead of the "March for Dignity," the anti-Pride demonstrators broke into the Tbilisi Pride office and set fire to a rainbow flag. In its statement canceling the march, Tbilisi Pride condemned both the violence and the inaction of the authorities, accusing the government and the Georgian Patriarchate of backing a "huge wave of hate." Eighteen Western Embassies also issued a joint statement condemning the attacks in Tbilisi, as well as the failure of government and religious leaders to speak out against this violence.